The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.- Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, on Tuesday warned politicians to stop harming corps members during elections.

He said a continued harming of corps members would mean that they would not be taken to work at polling units again.

The DG gave the warning during an on-the-spot inspection of a corps member, Saidu Mohammed, who sustained gunshot injuries at Omuo Ekiti during last Saturday’s bye-election held in Ekiti.

“I want to appeal again – whenever there is an election, don’t touch my corps members. Nobody should touch my corps members during any election period,” he said.

The NYSC boss who spoke with journalists at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, (FETHI) where the corps member was receiving treatment, described the situation as worrisome.

“What happened to Mohammed on Saturday during the by-election in Omuo-Ekiti is not a good one.

“I want to appeal to Nigerians, election is not a do-or-die affair; it is service to humanity.

“Politicians should sell themselves to the electorate and win in a free, fair and violence-free election.

“Let the process of election be seamless, free and fair, it should not get to the extent of harming innocent people,” Brig.- Gen Ibrahim said.

He said that Governor Kayode Fayemi had assured him that the law enforcement agency had arrested some suspects, but insisted that the government must ensure that the perpetrators are dealt with in consonance with the laws to serve as deterrents to other like minds.

“I can assure you that where there are security issues, we will not take our corps members to such places again,” he said.

The Chief Medical Director of FETHI, Dr Adekunle Ajayi, informed the DG that the corps member’s condition was stable and assured the DG that he would be discharged in a few days time.

Mr Mohammed, a veterinary doctor serving in Ikole-Ekiti, is among the victims of the violence that occurred at Saturday’s by-election.

(NAN)