Nigeria – The nation is in shock following the tragic deaths of 16 Nigerian graduates, all prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who reportedly lost their lives in a fatal road accident while travelling to the Gombe NYSC orientation camp. Two other graduates are currently battling for survival in hospital.
The victims, all alumni of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo, were described as hopeful and eager to begin their national service—a rite of passage for Nigerian graduates. Their journey, filled with promise, ended abruptly, leaving families, peers, and the wider academic community devastated.
The incident has reignited national debate over youth safety and the risks involved in sending graduates to serve in a country facing rising insecurity and systemic challenges. Citizens have questioned the government’s ability to provide basic protections, highlighting the vulnerability of young Nigerians undertaking national service.
The tragedy comes amid a spate of national crises that have heightened public anxiety. Over the past three days, doctors across several states have gone on strike, leaving hospitals understaffed; the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to shut down universities again; ISWAP fighters killed a Brigadier General, and bandits abducted 25 schoolgirls, underscoring the persistent threats to security.
Further compounding public concern, reports indicate bandit attacks on buses travelling from northern Nigeria to Lagos along the Ilesa/Ife expressway, affecting students returning from the recently concluded NUGA Games at the University of Jos. Witnesses noted that such attacks occur almost nightly, yet little effective security response has been observed.
The Osun State Government’s lack of clear action has deepened frustration, with residents describing the highway as a hotspot for unchecked criminal activity, leaving commuters to rely on luck rather than law enforcement.
As these incidents unfold, many Nigerians are asking difficult questions about national priorities, governance, and safety. Ordinary citizens—students, workers, and families—continue to bear the brunt of insecurity and systemic failures, with young graduates among the most vulnerable.
The deaths of the 16 AFUED graduates serve as a harrowing reminder of the fragility of life in Nigeria. Their dreams, abruptly cut short, echo the fears of millions who continue to question when the tide of insecurity and national instability will be addressed.
follow us on whatsapp
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAOIUe9mrGeBhrju12b
Download our Mobile App for easy access
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvmobile.ng&hl=en
Mobile App Lite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvng.lite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvmobile.ng&hl=en
Follow us on Youtube
https://youtube.com/@edutvnigeria
Follow us on LinkedIn -
https://ng.linkedin.com/company/edutvnigeria
Follow us on Instagram
https://instagram.com/edutvnigeria
Follow us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/edutvnigeria/
