Embedded in the security awareness handbook of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), is a clause that advises corps members to alert family, friends and colleagues before travelling to have ransom on-hand to pay kidnappers if one is abducted on the road.
The 72-page handbook which is issued to every corps member, noted the Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene and Aba-Port Harcourt roads as high risk areas.
NYSC advised corps members to “establish a personal relationship with the kidnappers as early as possible and also be friendly to them by all means.”
The handbook also warned that in the event of a kidnapping, if one is released, he/she must not speak to the media for any reason.
The advisory reads in part:
“When travelling in high risk roads such as Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene or Aba-Port Harcourt roads, alert your family members, friends and colleagues in order to have someone on-hand to pay off the ransom that could be demanded.”
The advisory on being kidnapped:
“Do not antagonize your captors, be polite and operate with reasonable regards. Give reasonable cooperation to your abductors. Establish a personal relationship with your captors as early as possible.
“Advise your friends involved in the negotiations, they should be friendly with the captors.
“Take no risk by attempting to escape.”
“Make no statement to the media after your release without official clearance, but share your experience with close associates.”
The above statement was extracted from the Security Awareness and Education Handbook for Corps Members and Staff, 13th edition.
The book is issued to every corps member upon arrival at the camp for training.
