The Minister of Youth Development, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said that five and not 18 prospective National Youth Service Corps members died in an auto crash on their way to the orientation camp.
A statement by Abdullai’s Special Assistant on Media, Julius Ogunro, said the corp members died in an accident around Ilesa in Osun State on their way to the orientation camp in Taraba State.
The statement said: “Contrary to earlier reports, which stated that 18 corps members were killed in an auto crash on their way to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Taraba, we wish to clarify that the police could only confirm the death of five prospective corps members of the fourteen people who died in the fatal crash.”
Six other prospective corps members in the bus were also reported to have sustained injuries.
He said he was committed to working with the NYSC to review situations that might have contributed to such an incident.
He commiserated with the families of the deceased.