The Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ogun State, Mrs. Olayinka Nasamu has addressed the tragic death of Pelumi David Idowu, a student from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade.
Idowu was killed by a hit-and-run driver in front of the NYSC Orientation Camp along Sagamu-Ikenne road last Monday. The incident also claimed the life of the motorcyclist who was transporting Idowu.
Mrs. Nasamu clarified that the NYSC was not involved in the accident and refuted allegations that the agency was protecting the driver responsible for the tragedy. Students, under the banners of the National Association of Nigerian Students and the National Association of Ogun State Students, had protested, accusing the NYSC of covering up the identity of the driver, who they claimed was an NYSC official named Ojo Aina. They alleged that after the accident, Aina sought refuge within the NYSC camp.
Addressing these claims, Nasamu described them as “baseless, unfounded, and figments of the imagination” of the protesting students. She expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and stressed that the NYSC prioritizes the security and development of Nigerian youth and would never obstruct justice.
Nasamu disclosed that investigations conducted by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police had cleared the NYSC of any wrongdoing. She noted that the management of Gateway Polytechnic, including the Rector and the Student Union President, visited her office to apologize for the wrongful accusations against the NYSC.
She explained that the student body of the Polytechnic has distanced itself from the group that staged the protest at the Ogun State police command, emphasizing that these actions did not represent the larger student community.
In her statement, Nasamu said, “First and foremost, I want to extend my condolences, on behalf of the NYSC as a responsible organization and myself as a mother, to the families of the victims affected by this unfortunate incident. May they find strength and comfort in this difficult time. We also condole with the Student Union Government (SUG) and the entire Gateway Polytechnic community.”
She further highlighted that the Polytechnic’s administration had committed to issuing a public statement to correct the misinformation circulating in the media. Official reports from the DSS and a press release from the Student Union President confirm that the NYSC and its officials were not involved in the tragic incident.
