The Senate has ordered an investigation into the death of Etimbuk Daniel, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who reportedly died at the orientation camp in Enugu State following complications from a minor headache.
The upper chamber directed its committees on Police, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Youth Development, and Health to investigate the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The decision followed a motion raised by Senator Aniekan Bassey (APC, Akwa Ibom North-East) during plenary on Thursday, in which he expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the corps member’s death and called for a thorough investigation.
Bassey said the Senate received the news of Daniel’s death with shock and profound grief, describing the deceased as an outstanding student leader who had served as president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Akwa Ibom State University before proceeding for national service.
He expressed concern over reports that Daniel died after experiencing complications from a minor headache, allegedly following delays in receiving adequate medical attention at the camp’s clinic.
The senator said the incident had raised serious questions about the quality of healthcare services available at NYSC orientation camps, particularly the availability of qualified medical personnel, functional medical facilities and effective emergency referral systems.
According to him, the circumstances surrounding the death underscore the need for a comprehensive review of healthcare delivery in orientation camps to prevent similar incidents and protect the lives of corps members.
Bassey stressed that the government had a constitutional responsibility to protect the welfare of citizens, adding that young graduates undertaking national service deserved adequate medical care throughout their participation in the programme.
He noted that Daniel’s death had plunged his family, the Akwa Ibom State University community and Akwa Ibom State into mourning.
Seconding the motion, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North) supported the call for an investigation, stressing the need to establish the facts surrounding the incident and ensure accountability where necessary.
The Senate subsequently called for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances that led to Daniel’s death and establish whether negligence or lapses in medical care contributed to the tragedy.
The lawmakers also observed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased and prayed for God to grant his family the strength to bear the loss.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, commended Bassey for bringing the matter before the chamber and urged the relevant committees to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
The probe is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death, including the medical attention available at the orientation camp and the response to his reported health emergency.
Here’s a quick summary of the conversation:
The Senate has called for a thorough investigation into the death of Etimbuk Daniel, a National Youth Service Corps member who died at an orientation camp in Enugu State after reportedly suffering complications from a minor headache and delays in receiving medical care. Senator Aniekan Bassey raised the motion, highlighting concerns about healthcare services in NYSC camps, including the availability of qualified personnel and emergency referral systems.
The Senate directed relevant committees to work alongside security agencies to examine the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death and assess potential negligence.
Lawmakers observed a minute of silence for the deceased and emphasised the government’s responsibility to safeguard corps members’ welfare, urging improvements in healthcare delivery at orientation camps.