Fatal Romance: NYSC Inspector Arrested Following Botched Abortion and Death of Abeokuta Corps Member
ABEOKUTA— A devastating scandal has rocked the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ogun State. Police detectives from the State Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, have officially arrested a senior NYSC official following the tragic death of a female corps member, Victoria Ariyo.
Ariyo, who was actively serving her mandatory one-year national assignment in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area, died on Tuesday from severe medical complications arising from a suspected, secretly arranged abortion.
The Abuse of Power: An Illicit Romance and a Fatal Decision
Investigative findings reveal a disturbing abuse of authority at the local NYSC secretariat. Authorities have identified the arrested suspect as Abass Olalekan, the NYSC Local Government Inspector (LGI) for Abeokuta South. The Relationship: Olalekan allegedly leveraged his official position to initiate a romantic relationship with Ariyo, his direct subordinate in the scheme. The Pregnancy: The illicit affair recently resulted in an unwanted pregnancy.
The Fatal Procedure: Sources close to the investigation allege that Olalekan pressured the young corps member to terminate the pregnancy to avoid an official scandal. Ariyo agreed to the covert procedure but suffered fatal medical complications during the process.
Her remains were hurriedly interred on Tuesday at the Kobape Cemetery, located along the Kobape-Sagamu Road in the state capital.
Police and NYSC Launch Full Investigations
The Ogun State Police Command swiftly moved in to detain the inspector once the circumstances surrounding the hasty burial came to light.
The spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the tragic demise of the corps member, stating that detectives have launched a comprehensive homicide investigation to uncover the exact clinic and medical personnel who performed the botched procedure.
Facing intense public scrutiny, the NYSC National Directorate has also broken its silence. Caroline Embu, the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, released a statement confirming the arrest.
“We wish to confirm that the matter is currently under investigation by relevant security agencies, and the individual concerned has been taken into custody. The NYSC maintains a strict code of conduct for its staff and corps members and will not condone any act of misconduct or abuse of office.”
A Dark Cloud: The Unsolved Death of Adeleye Mary
Tragically, Victoria Ariyo’s death is not an isolated incident in Abeokuta South. This scandal erupts barely one month after the mysterious passing of another female corps member, Adeleye Mary.
Adeleye, who was attached to a television station in the state capital for her primary assignment, was found completely lifeless inside her private residence last month. The two deceased corps members were reportedly friends. To date, authorities have not released an official cause of death for Adeleye Mary, raising serious, mounting concerns regarding the safety, welfare, and potential exploitation of female corps members serving in the state.
As the Eleweran homicide section interrogates Inspector Olalekan, civil society groups are demanding absolute transparency to ensure justice for Victoria Ariyo.