The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to rescue 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other travellers abducted in Imo State. In a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA urged the government to deploy all available intelligence, security assets, and specialist capabilities to secure their release. The association emphasized that the reported discovery of the kidnappers' forest hideout, surrounded by improvised explosive devices, makes the rescue operation an urgent national security priority.
HURIWA demands that security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Air Force, establish a unified rescue command and deploy specialized personnel trained in hostage rescue, explosive ordnance disposal, intelligence gathering, and jungle operations. The association also calls for continuous aerial surveillance and ground intelligence around the identified hideout to prevent the kidnappers from relocating the victims or inflicting harm on them.
The association urges the security forces to establish a secure perimeter around the area, cut off possible escape routes, and use all lawful means available to isolate the kidnappers while creating a safe corridor for the recovery of the hostages. HURIWA also demands the deployment of bomb-disposal experts and appropriate armoured equipment to neutralise the explosive threats around the camp before any ground assault is attempted.
HURIWA emphasizes that the safety of the hostages must remain the overriding consideration throughout the operation and warns against any reckless action that could put the lives of the abducted corps members at greater risk. The association calls on the security agencies to provide regular, credible updates to the families of the victims and establish a dedicated liaison structure through which relatives can receive verified information about the rescue operation.
The association also demands that the Federal Government deploy intelligence-led measures to identify and apprehend the kidnappers and their collaborators, rather than allowing the operation to end with the release of the hostages alone. HURIWA insists that those responsible for the abduction must be tracked, arrested, and prosecuted after the victims have been safely recovered.
HURIWA further calls for urgent medical, psychological, and welfare support for the victims immediately after their rescue, particularly given the trauma associated with prolonged captivity. The association notes that the latest incident cannot be treated as another isolated kidnapping case, as security incidents involving corps members have persisted since 2015 and intensified since 2023.
The association renews its call for a comprehensive review of the NYSC scheme, including the possibility of a one-year suspension to allow the Federal Government to develop a credible and sustainable security framework. However, HURIWA stresses that the immediate priority is not the future of the NYSC scheme but the lives of those currently in captivity. The association demands that the Federal Government and security agencies treat the rescue of the abducted corps members as an emergency operation and do everything within their lawful powers to bring them home safely.
Key points
- HURIWA demands immediate and safe rescue of abducted NYSC members
- Association calls for deployment of specialized personnel and equipment
- HURIWA urges comprehensive review of NYSC scheme amid persistent security incidents
