Tragedy as 24-Year-Old NYSC Member Dies Weeks into Service Year

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) community in Plateau State has been thrown into mourning following the untimely death of a 24-year-old corps member, Joyce Abakumen.

Ms. Abakumen reportedly passed away in January 2026 due to complications from typhoid fever, only weeks after successfully completing her mandatory three-week orientation course.

The Benue-born graduate had recently been posted to her Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) in Plateau State to begin her primary service year. Friends and colleagues have described her as a vibrant and dedicated individual whose promising future was tragically cut short.

The passing of Ms. Abakumen has sparked renewed discussions regarding the health and welfare of corps members deployed to unfamiliar environments. Typhoid fever, a bacterial infection often linked to contaminated food or water, remains a significant health risk in areas with limited access to treated water. Medical professionals continue to urge young Nigerians in the service scheme to seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of persistent fever or abdominal pain.

The NYSC Plateau State Secretariat is expected to facilitate the necessary protocols for the home-going of the deceased. Tributes have continued to pour in on social media from the "Batch C" stream of corps members, who described the loss as a sobering start to their service year.