FRSC, NYSC Debunk Viral Report of Fatal Crash Involving 16 Prospective Gombe Corps Members, Call It ‘Panic Message’

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Gombe State Command today, Thursday, November 20, 2025, moved swiftly to debunk a viral social media report alleging a fatal road crash that claimed the lives of 16 prospective corps members heading to the Gombe orientation camp.

The false alarm, which circulated widely on various platforms, caused widespread panic among the families of thousands of Nigerian graduates currently mobilised for their mandatory national service.

Janet Kassa, the FRSC Public Relations Officer, stated emphatically that checks across all FRSC units and commands found no evidence of such a tragic event.

“I have checked with my colleagues, there is no indication this happened in Gombe, not to mention that it even occurred,” Kassa said. “I have placed a series of calls across units and commands to authenticate the report, but there is no sign. This may be one of those posts to get comments and views.”

Police and NYSC Confirm Falsehood

The Gombe State Police Command backed the FRSC’s finding, noting that the reports lacked credibility, failing to provide basic information such as the hospital where injured victims were supposedly deposited.

Similarly, Jennifer Laha, the NYSC Public Relations Officer in Gombe, dismissed the circulating images, pointing out that they appeared suspicious and could be computer-generated. She also clarified that the NYSC scheme does not typically provide vehicles to convey prospective corps members to orientation camps, further casting doubt on the narrative.

The swift action by the security and youth service agencies was a necessary response to the growing problem of misinformation which frequently targets sensitive national events, exploiting genuine public fears over the safety of youth traveling long distances for national service. The Gombe orientation camp remains open, with the official swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Friday.