The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Monday discovered a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp at Tammah village, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Nassarawa State, with 62 ‘corps members’.
It was gathered that the fake camp was to operare for just a day, in which all the fake corps members would take their pictures with the NYSC crested vests and other kits and be likely issued fake certificates for future reference.
The fake corps members, consisting of 44 females and 18 males, were arrested and paraded by the state commandant, Mr Andekin Amos Musa, who said that the routine surveillance of the command made the arrest possible.
He added that the four drivers who conveyed them to the village, and the photographer hired for the illicit job, were also arrested.
He said, “The suspected fake corps members were arrested at the outskirts of Nassarawa Town near the Government Secondary School. Investigations are still on, and as soon as they are concluded, they will be charged to court.
“So far, our investigations reveal that one Chinedu is the coordinator and director of the fake camp. We also discovered that the fake corps members paid sums ranging from N120, 000 to N200, 000 before being admitted to the camp.
“I want to warn parents and guardians to watch their wards very closely so as to curb their excesses.”
Some of the suspects who were interviewed claimed to be running evening classes at the University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State.
They also claimed ignorance of the fact that it was a fake camp, saying they were lured into it out of desperation as without an NYSC discharge certificate, one would not be able to secure a job in future.
It will be recalled that the NSCDC had recently arrested and paraded fake corps members caught at two different fake camps preparing for orientation and induction at the outskirts of the state.