Yemi Obafemi
The Vice Chancellor of Wesley University, Ondo, Prof. Samuel Obeka, has called for a restructuring of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to introduce weapon training to tacle insecurity across the country.
Obeka made the recommendation on Thursday during a press briefing at the university ahead of its upcoming convocation ceremony.
According to him, Nigeria is facing a “traumatic” security situation that requires urgent intervention, as human life is no longer treated with the value and dignity it deserves.
The Vice Chancellor of Wesley University, Ondo Town, Ondo State, Prof. Samuel Obeka, has said:
He said, “Today, every clergyman is worried and disturbed that adequate attention has not been paid to human life like animals. It looks like the life of animals seems to be more appreciated than that of humans. When I watch online messages and some of the messages we see around today, it is obvious that the country is going through a traumatic experience and requires urgent intervention to save the nation from disaster.
“A country where free fellowship has become an issue of concern that borders also on our constitutional rights as citizens. A country where we can no longer travel freely as we would have loved. In those days, some of us travelled at night to Maiduguri for a crusade. We travelled to Damaturu, we travelled to Jos on the road, and we enjoyed free driving.
“Where have we gone wrong? A situation where just a few sets of people tagged as insurgency groups have weapons and they attack innocent citizens freely without being arrested is becoming an issue of great concern.
“If I am to recommend, it has come to a stage where Nigerians must have the liberty to use weapons and be trained to use weapons. What we call the national youth service today, if possible, should be decentralised. After secondary school, there should be a national youth service where children are trained in the use of weapons for self-defence.
“I will also suggest a second NYSC, which will be after the degree program, as the second level of training, so that every Nigerian, especially in academia, should be licensed to use weapons. If everybody is licensed, the idea of attacking somebody on the road will be minimised because the attacker and the person being attacked are both trained in the use of ammunition.”
On campus safety, Obeka stated that security remains a major priority at Wesley University.
“As you go around, you discover that the hostel environment is fenced. We have the first fence and the second fence. We also strategise with security posts. Today, we have the Central Security Administration and the Second Security Administration strategically located in the hostels.
“Wesley University is the only university today in Nigeria, known to me, that has employed guardian counsellors and special security support for hostel administration. Hostels at Wesley University have guardian counsellors attached with security responsibilities.
” There are also other security preparations in terms of training our boys’ brigade, ensuring a constant security initiative and enlightenment,” he said.
