The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has described as false the report on the purported training of corps members in self defence in collaboration with Martial Arts and Self Defence Academy.
The report which was published in the LEADERSHIP edition of September 12, had stated that the scheme would train corps members in the arts of self defence .
In the said report, the Combatant General of the Academy, Mr Richard Uboh-Ekon had told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that its organisation was discussing details of the training which was meant to equip the youth on how to defend themselves in times of crisis, with the management of the NYSC.
The management of NYSC in a press release yesterday denied entering into any partnership with such organisation, as, according to them, its collaborators include only the Police, Man O’ War, Red Cross, Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps which are well known.
“The attention of the NYSC Management has been drawn to Leadership newspaper report on Monday, 12th September, 2011, that the Scheme would train corps members on self defence in collaboration with Martial Arts and Self Defence Academy,
(MASDA) in the training of individuals who are to be deployed to the Orientation Camps. Thus, the Scheme has described as false, the reports that it is in partnership with the Academy,” the statement reads in part.
It further disclosed that the management of the NYSC have already written a letter to the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corps, intimating him of the information it got in confidence that “an illegal camp is going on at Masaka, Nasarawa state”.
It therefore advised the general public to disregard any body or organisation purporting to be training corps members or individuals in martial arts and self defence, in collaboration with the NYSC.
It went further to add that there was no such occasion where the issue of Martial Arts and Training on Self defence was discussed by the former Director-General, Brig. Gen MI Tsiga or his predecessor.