Rivers state governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
By Uchendu Mark
Youth in Rivers state have allegedly burnt down the National Youth Service Corps’ permanent orientation camp in Nonwa-Gbam Tai in Tai local government area of Rivers state after the federal designated some NYSC camps isolation centers for COVID-19 patients.
It can be recalled the federal government designated NYSC camp as an isolation center as part of its emergency preparedness plan for COVID-19 pandemic.
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The fire incident according to source started around 2pm on Friday and razed some buildings and valuables in the camp.
A source in the area who disclosed the incident to our correspondent alleged that there was report in the area that the federal government had announced that NYSC camp and stadium should be used as isolation centres for COVID-19 patients.
The source claimed that when the information filtered into the community some youths invaded the area and set it ablaze to stop the government from using the area as isolation centre.
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However, when contacted at press time, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Chinwendu Chukwu, simply said: “I am not ready to answer any questions on this.”
A senior staff in the state NYSC office had earlier confirmed the development, but noted that it does not know the cause of the fire.
The source, who preferred anonymity noted that the Coordinator of NYSC in the state, had visited the camp to ascertain the level of damage.
