From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling for an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of a youth corps member from the state.
Miss Dorcas Paul Ojong, a serving corps member from Cross River State with NYSC number AN/2023/4309, a Batch A, Stream 2 2023 member, is alleged to have gone missing some months ago while serving in Anambra State.
In passing the resolution, the House called on the state government, through the office of the Attorney General, to mandate the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to produce the corps member.
The Assembly’s resolution followed a motion presented by the member representing Akamkpa 1 State Constituency, Hon. Okon Nyong Owuna.
The Akamkpa 1 lawmaker decried the disappearance of Miss Ojong, his constituent, who was posted to Anambra State for the mandatory National Youth Service.
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He disclosed that his missing constituent was last seen on 18 February 2024 by her landlady in Anambra State, adding that all efforts by her family and friends to trace her whereabouts since then had been unsuccessful.
“Mr Speaker, Dorcas, with NYSC number AN/2023/4309, a Batch A, Stream 2 2023 corps member, was supposed to end her service in March 2024.
“She was last seen on 18 February 2024 by her landlady, who said Dorcas told her that she was going to her place of primary assignment, the Federal Ministry of Health, Awka,” Mr Owuna said.
Mr Owuna further lamented that Miss Ojong’s disappearance had thrown her family into confusion, trauma, and grief, adding that the NYSC Anambra State authority had failed to take adequate steps to trace her whereabouts.
The Assembly expressed empathy with the missing woman’s family and expressed hope that she would be found.
The Speaker of the Assembly, the Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, assured the House of the Assembly’s commitment to the matter, which he described as very unfortunate.