The viral story of an alleged missing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Adewebi Opeoluwa, serving in Osogbo, Osun State, has turned out to be a hoax.
A Nigerian identified simply as Mr. Adetunji hurriedly published a missing person notice on his Facebook page on 24 September, declaring Opeoluwa missing and appealing to the public for information about her whereabouts.
‘We wish to inform the general public about the disappearance of Miss Adewebi Opeyemi, a serving NYSC corps member at St. James’s Grammar School, Ayetoro, Osogbo, Osun State.
‘She has been incommunicado since Sunday, September 20, and all efforts to establish contact with her have so far been unsuccessful.
‘We appeal to anyone who may have seen her or has any useful information about her whereabouts to please contact any of the following immediately:
?? Mrs. Adewebi (Mum): 08131623098
?? Mr. Adetunji: 08037824277
‘Please share this announcement widely. Your repost or sharing may help us reach someone with information that could assist in locating her.
‘Any information, no matter how small, may be very important. Please help us find Adewebi Opeyemi,’ the notice said.
However, when the news reached the Osun Directorate of the NYSC, an investigation was quickly launched, and Opeoluwa was tracked down to Ado Ekiti, where she had gone on a personal visit.
On realising the panic and anxiety her irresponsible abandonment of duty post and sudden disappearance had caused, she took to her Facebook page on Monday to dispel the missing person narrative and apologise for her misdeed.
Opeoluwa’s public notice of retraction is reproduced below:
PUBLIC NOTICE AND RETRACTION
RE: Correction Regarding My Missing Person Report
I, Adewebi Opeoluwa, serving at St. James’s Grammar School, wish to clarify and correct prior communications regarding my missing person report that was posted online on 24 September 2026, specifically by Amiloaded media, which stated that I had been missing since 20 September 2026.
I wish to state categorically that I was not missing, nor was I kidnapped. It was because my mother was unable to reach me for some days that warranted her raising an alarm, which was amplified by the media outfit.
I wish to state that I am safe, accounted for, and not in any danger. The initial report was made in good faith by the media outfit to appease my mother, who was very scared at not hearing from me.
I sincerely apologise for any alarm, distress, or confusion the post may have caused the entire NYSC community in Osun State, starting from my state coordinator, my PPA, my friends, and colleagues. Once again, I am really sorry for all the problems I have put everyone through.
Yours sincerely,
Adewebi Opeoluwa
28 September 2026
When Opeoluwa was brought before the NYSC Osun Coordinator, Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, and journalists at the Scheme’s Secretariat in Osogbo on Monday afternoon, she could not offer any genuine explanation for what she went to do in Ado Ekiti when she was supposed to be at her duty post in Osogbo. She, however, regretted her indiscretions and appealed for forgiveness.
Kubiangha responded that Opeoluwa’s case would be forwarded to the NYSC disciplinary committee for necessary punitive action.
He promised that the Scheme would continue to sensitize corps members to understand that being on the fast lane or trying to pursue money or fame in the wrong way is destructive.
‘It is unethical for an individual to claim to have been kidnapped or missing when you are not.
‘You are exposing your parents to untold hardship. You have gone viral for the wrong reason.
‘This is why our Director General has been warning corps members against using social media negatively.
‘This matter will be pursued to a logical conclusion. We will follow it up with the disciplinary committee so that it will act as a deterrent to other would-be erring corps members.
‘We will really talk to the corps members in this new orientation programme,’ Kubiangha said.
He asked parents to create enough time for their children and to inculcate the right values in them.
Two principals of St. James’s Grammar School, Ayetoro, were also at the NYSC Secretariat to follow up on the case.
Opeoluwa was initially deployed to Nasarawa State before he was reposted to Osun State based on health ground.