NYSC member slumps, dies at Bauchi orientation camp

A female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, identified as Magdalene Yohana, has reportedly slumped and died during the orientation programme in Bauchi State.

She was said to have complained of having asthma before her demise.

The incident, it was learnt, occurred on April 1, but the state NYSC authorities have not commented on it.

It was gathered that the corps member, who hails from Gantan village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was also said to be an orphan and the second graduate in her hometown.


Magdalene was said to have sponsored her education.

She reportedly complained to an NYSC official at the Wailo orientation camp in Ganjuwa Local Government Area about her incapacity to participate in the regular parade due to her asthmatic condition.

But the official was said to have dismissed her claim.

A fellow corps member, who spoke in confidence with our reporter, said: “The deceased earlier complained to an NYSC official that she would not be able to go to the parade ground because she was asthmatic, but her complaint was dismissed by the official. He said corps members were fond of giving flimsy excuses to avoid parade.”

The source said Magdalene partook in the morning meditation the next day, despite her earlier complaint.

She reportedly slumped and was conveyed to the camp’s clinic but her situation worsened and was transferred to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBTH), where she was confirmed dead.

The corps member was sited at the reception of ATBTH emergency unit where a white bus with NYSC logo pulled up around 12:30 p.m on April 1.

A female corps doctor was seen holding a drip being passed to the body of the late Magdalene while waiting for a stretcher.

When the stretcher was brought out, the female NYSC doctor was assisted by two hospital workers to convey the lady to the reception of the emergency unit.

Efforts to resuscitate the corps members after several chest compressions were abortive.

Her body was covered with a sheet.

A doctor, who also spoke in confidence, said the deceased’s relatives had been informed but added that he could not speak further because he was not authorised to address the media.

Efforts to get the NYSC spokesman, identified simply as Artu, to speak on the incident were unsuccessful.

He told our reporter on phone that he was not in town but in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

But the State NYSC Coordinator, Afolayan James, did not acknowledge the death of the corps member at the closing ceremony of the three-week orientation course.

It was clear when the state coordinator will address the media on the matter.