National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established after the Nigerian Civil War to rebuild Nigeria. This program is a mandatory service required by all Nigerian youths after University education and before career employment. During the elections of April 2011, many of the youth corpers were stationed at election polls to help administer the polls and ensure that votes were not rigged or tampered with. The unrest in the North escalated as innocent corpers were killed and kidnapped. 9 corpers throughout the election were murdered, but many others survived with serious life threatening injuries/disfigurements. To members of the Boko Haram, these youths were agents and partners to the government, consequently their enemies. The numerous attacks on the corpers further solidifies Boko Haram's political motives and intentions to disturb the governance of Nigeria by making voting difficult and dangerous.
Obinna Okpikiri is an account of a NYSC corper burned to death by CPC fanatics. CPC is the party of Muhammed Buhari who was greatly supported by Muslim/Hausa/Fulani Northern Nigeria.The actions of radical CPC supporters led to the fall of Muhammed Buhari and accusations of him supporting Boko Haram. He was believed to have been financing the Boko Haram to interrupt the possibility of Goodluck Johnathan as president. Regardless of whether the accusations are indeed valid or not, the demonstrations by these CPC fanatics illustrates the ethnic conflicts that surrounded the elections.
These attacks eventually led to the evacuation of NYSC corpers from the Northern conflict areas.
Obinna Okpikiri is an account of a NYSC corper burned to death by CPC fanatics. CPC is the party of Muhammed Buhari who was greatly supported by Muslim/Hausa/Fulani Northern Nigeria.The actions of radical CPC supporters led to the fall of Muhammed Buhari and accusations of him supporting Boko Haram. He was believed to have been financing the Boko Haram to interrupt the possibility of Goodluck Johnathan as president. Regardless of whether the accusations are indeed valid or not, the demonstrations by these CPC fanatics illustrates the ethnic conflicts that surrounded the elections.
These attacks eventually led to the evacuation of NYSC corpers from the Northern conflict areas.
Kolawale,
Simon. This Day Live, "Two Youth Corpers Murdered in Cold Blood while
on National Service." Last modified April 23 2011. Accessed April 20,
2012.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/two-youth-corpers-murdered-in-cold-blood-while-on-national-service/90142/.
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