The Gombe State Government has dismissed a widely circulated social media report alleging that 16 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) died in a road accident while travelling to the state. The government described the claim as false, misleading, and crafted to incite fear among the public.
In a public notice issued on Friday, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Muhammadu Yahaya on Security Matters and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Yusuf Danbayo, said no such incident occurred anywhere in the country. He stressed that neither the Nigeria Police Force nor any other security agency had received a report of an NYSC-related crash.
“There is no accident anywhere in Nigeria involving NYSC corps members that has been reported to the Nigeria Police Force or any sister agency,” Danbayo stated. “In this country, no serious incident can occur without being formally reported to the nearest police station, and no such report exists.”
He questioned the credibility of the viral posts, noting the absence of verifiable details such as the hospital where the alleged victims were taken. “Which hospital is keeping the so-called 16 bodies? Which medical facility has documented this tragedy? No hospital has such a report,” he said.
Danbayo added that a nationwide inquiry conducted through Motor Traffic Departments across all 774 local government areas revealed no record of an accident matching the claims. “If an accident of this magnitude happened, the MTD would have it on record. We contacted all relevant agencies responsible for road traffic monitoring, and none of them has any information supporting this claim,” he explained.
He further pointed out that the NYSC does not operate the type of coaster bus shown in the viral images, describing the visuals as suspicious and misleading. He also confirmed that no parent, family member, or guardian had reported losing a corps member in such circumstances.
Danbayo urged the public to exercise caution and verify sensitive information from credible institutions such as the police and the Federal Road Safety Corps before sharing. “Those circulating breaking news, especially about accidents, must confirm the details with proper authorities before circulating. The story in circulation is completely false,” he warned.
He called on residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified claims capable of causing fear, misinformation, or public unrest.
