Mrs Rifkatu Yakubu, Bauchi State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has urged female Corps members to return home to their parents after completing their service.

Yakubu made the call during the distribution of National Service certificates to corps members who completed the one-year mandatory service on Thursday.

While specifically addressing the 2024 Batch ‘A’ Stream 11 female corps members, she said, “Ladies, please remember that your boyfriends are not your parents. Do not say that after collecting your certificates, you are heading to your boyfriends’ houses.
“Go back home to your parents and celebrate with them. You have just completed your national service, and this is a moment to share with your family.”

She also encouraged corps members to put their skills to good use, particularly those acquired through the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

“Even if you haven’t learnt anything from the SAED programme, it’s not too late. Instead of going home to sit idle, find something to do to support your parents.

Use this last allowance wisely; invest in learning a trade,” she said.

Yakubu further cautioned corps members against engaging in fraudulent activities such as internet fraud (yahoo yahoo), kidnapping, or ritual killings in pursuit of quick wealth.

“These are not the values NYSC has instilled in you. You have served to become responsible members of society,” she said.

“Represent your family well, be a good ambassador of Nigeria, your institution, and the NYSC.”

She also advised the corps members to carefully check their National Service certificates for errors before laminating them.
However, a total of 1,652 corps members passed out in Bauchi State, comprising 1,118 males and 534 females.
(NAN)

A gas explosion occurred on Tuesday morning at the Inner Galaxy Steel Company, a Chinese firm located in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State. The blast, reportedly triggered by a faulty gas valve, caused widespread damage within the facility and left multiple casualties in its wake.

According to Maureen Chinaka, Police Public Relations Officer for the Abia State Police Command, the incident resulted in two fatalities and over 10 injuries.

The command was informed of the incident by the Chinese firm’s Chief Security Officer on Tuesday.

Dike Briggs Nwankwo, Mayor of Ukwa West LGA, recounted his immediate response to the incident, suspending all official engagements to visit the scene. Upon arrival, he witnessed the devastation firsthand, describing how the explosion had “completely ripped apart the roof” of the affected section.

Initial reports on social media claimed that up to 20 people had lost their lives in the blast. However, Nwankwo confirmed that a review of CCTV footage by the factory’s management and local authorities revealed that the explosion occurred while a customer was handling a gas cylinder valve. He stated that 12 people were affected, with two fatalities and 10 injuries. The injured are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Port Harcourt and are reportedly responding well to treatment.

Parents of the nine kidnapped children in Miya village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State have appealed to Governor Bala Mohammed to intervene and assist them in rescuing their wards.

The parents made the plea while speaking with journalists at the NUJ Press Centre in Bauchi on Wednesday.

The spokesman of the parents, Musa Kwana, who is the traditional ruler of the community stated that unless the governor and his wife Aisha Bala Mohammed intervene, they may not see their children again.

Kwana gave the names of the children abducted as Sangi Turaki, Cikawa Turaki, Danjuma Turaki, Yangawa Dogo Talangu, Bebi Bawa, Jumolo Dangaladima, Kangaya Kori, Jummai Adamu and Alti Shehu, all of Miya village in Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi State.

The spokesman said, “Now that we have tried everything humanly possible for several years since the incident happened in 2014 and could not get a positive result, we want the governor and his wife to step in and wipe our tears. We want to see our children.”