Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, says the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme should be a two-year programme so that corps members can undergo military training.

Speaking during a programme on Channels Television on Wednesday, the Taraba governor said at the end of the military training, ex-corps members would be able to carry guns to defend themselves. He noted that since the government cannot provide adequate security, citizens should be engaged to protect themselves.

“If you leave me, the NYSC, I will say it should be two years — one year for compulsory military training and the other year for the social works that they are doing now,” he said.

This is so that anybody who graduates as an NYSC person can know how to handle a gun, can know how to defend himself, just like it is done in other countries like in Israel, Lebanon and other places.

You must engage your citizens to be proactive when you cannot provide the security. You must allow them to protect themselves. Constitution or no constitution, you must first be alive.