Fear gripped corps members in Akwa Ibom after armed men stormed the Christian Fellowship Lodge of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) late Tuesday night.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers, numbering about four, forced their way into the lodge where corps members had gathered. The intruders reportedly unleashed violence, injuring one corps member in the process before seizing valuables.
In the chaos, at least 13 mobile phones and a laptop were taken, leaving the victims shaken and distressed. Residents of the area said the gunmen struck with precision, suggesting they had monitored the lodge before the attack.
Security operatives have since been alerted, though no official arrests have been confirmed at press time. Concerned community members are calling for tighter protection for NYSC members, who often serve in areas far from home and are considered vulnerable.
One corps member, speaking under anonymity, described the ordeal as “a night of terror we won’t forget anytime soon.”
The incident adds to growing concerns about the safety of corps members in rural postings across Nigeria, where insecurity and violent robberies continue to threaten the national service scheme.