JUST IN: 16 Prospective Corps Members Killed in Road Crash on Way to NYSC Camp in Gombe

JUST IN: 16 Prospective Corps Members Killed in Road Crash on Way to NYSC Camp in Gombe

A tragic road accident has claimed the lives of 16 Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) travelling to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Gombe State, leaving the nation in shock and deep mourning. The victims, all graduates of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED) in Ondo State, were en route to begin their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme when the fatal crash occurred.

According to eyewitness accounts, the PCMs were travelling in an 18-seater bus when the accident happened, described as “catastrophic” due to the severity of the impact. Only two survivors were pulled from the wreckage, both in critical condition and receiving emergency treatment at a nearby hospital.

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Emergency responders swiftly recovered the bodies and evacuated the injured, while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash. As of press time, the NYSC Management has yet to issue an official statement.

The tragedy has ignited widespread national concern over road safety and the risks faced by young graduates posted to distant states for their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). Students, parents, and civil society groups have taken to social media, demanding stricter travel safety protocols, better regulation of vehicles conveying corps members, and a comprehensive review of NYSC deployment procedures to minimise long and dangerous journeys.

The catastrophic loss has once again raised urgent questions about the safety of Nigeria’s highways and the need for stronger preventive measures to protect lives—especially those of young graduates set to serve the nation.

JUST IN: 16 Prospective Corps Members Killed in Road Crash on Way to NYSC Camp in Gombe