The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has debunked claims that it is mobilising corps members for war.

NYSC’s Deputy Director of Publications, Emeka Mgbemena made this known in a statement issued on Friday.

Director-General of the Service, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim was quoted to have said “You can imagine within the short three weeks in the orientation camps, the corps members are moulded. They are like soldiers. You see female corps members blowing the army horn, playing with the military band.

“So, if not for the knowledge, where are you going to mobilise such young Nigerians to train them quickly to put in their best for the country?

“So, corps members are on reserve. They are also part of the national defence policy. Parents should teach their children the spirit of patriotism.”

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Clearing the air on the statement, NYSC said ‘This is to clarify the misrepresentation of the NYSC Director- General’s recent interview with the media currently trending on the social media.

“The Director-General had stated that in line with the National Defence Policy, corps members are like soldiers on reserve, because their education, exposure and sophistication, can make them easily adaptable to military training.

“He charged them to remain focused and patriotic; and for the spirit of NYSC to live in all Nigerians.

“General Ibrahim never at any point said that corps members are being mobilised to fight war.

“The scheme shall continue to safeguard the interest of corps members at all times.”