A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member stationed in Lagos has reported receiving threatening messages following her viral TikTok video criticizing President Bola Tinubu‘s administration over Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The corps member, who shared her concerns via the TikTok handle @talktoraye, expressed deep frustration about the country’s economic situation, particularly the rapid inflation affecting everyday Nigerians.
“If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe changes will be made in the government,” she stated in the video. “I don’t know if there is any other president as terrible as you, but you are such a terrible president. I want to know, what is the government doing about this increase? Is there going to be a particular time when prices will stop going up?”
To illustrate the economic hardship, she highlighted that a crate of eggs that previously cost N800 now sells for N6,500, while also citing increased costs for transportation, electricity, and security services. She mentioned that her NYSC allowance has become insufficient to cover these rising expenses.
After the video gained significant traction online, the corps member claims she began receiving threatening messages, allegedly from NYSC officials. In a follow-up video, she was recorded answering a call from an official who reportedly reprimanded her, saying: “Are you normal? Keep quiet and bring down the video you posted.”
The corps member later shared screenshots of threatening messages and expressed fears for her safety, writing: “Deleting this content is of no use because they already know me. However, deleting it means that whatever they do to me, nobody would know. If they decide to give me a hefty punishment, nobody would know because I used my own hands to cover it by deleting what I started.”
Defending her right to free expression, she added: “All I did was lament, all I did was complain. Why are they looking for me like I’m a criminal? I didn’t sign off my freedom of speech by becoming an NYSC Corper.”
According to the corps member, she has been summoned to report to the NYSC office on Monday. She has questioned why she faces intimidation and harassment merely for expressing her views on the economic situation.
The NYSC has not yet issued an official response to these allegations as of the time of reporting.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
