By Muhammed Akindele
A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kaduna State, Oyaje Daniel, has come under intense criticism after a sexually suggestive comment he made on social media resurfaced and sparked public outrage.
The controversial comment, posted on a Facebook page, appeared to sexualize Senior Secondary School (SS3) female students. The post has quickly attracted condemnation from some facebook users, who described it as inappropriate and harmful, especially coming from a corps member deployed to a secondary school environment.
Following the backlash, a petition titled “Formal Complaint and Request for Disciplinary Action Against Serving Corps Member for Sexual Misconduct Involving Minors” was circulated on Facebook by Kolawole Oludare Stephen, a Nigerian soldier and writer. The petition alleged that the corps member is currently posted to Judeen International School, Mando, under Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, a placement that gives him access to underage students.
The petition further accused Daniel of violating multiple regulations, including the NYSC Bye-Laws, the Child Rights Act, and provisions of the Criminal Code relating to indecent communication involving minors. It also called for an immediate investigation, possible suspension, and referral to law enforcement should the allegations be substantiated.
Screenshots of the controversial comment have since been widely shared online, prompting reactions from various community forums, including the Kaduna State Social Media Forum and the Kaduna State Primary School Teachers’ Forum.
In response to the growing controversy, the corps member issued a public apology titled “Clarification and Apology”, acknowledging that his comment was “unwise and hurtful.”
“I apologize for my unwise and hurtful comment, and I retract it entirely,” Daniel wrote. “I understand that my words may have caused offense, and for that, I am truly sorry.”
He further stated that he is a “law-abiding citizen” committed to community development and gender equity, adding that the situation has misrepresented his character. He denied any involvement in abuse or wrongdoing and pledged to be more mindful in the future.
At the time of this report, the NYSC management has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
