HURIWA Demands Immediate Rescue of Abducted Corps Members, Urges Govt to Deploy Full Military Capability

PRESS STATEMENT

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)

HURIWA Demands Immediate Rescue of Abducted Corps Members, Urges Govt to Deploy Full Military Capability

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded the immediate and safe rescue of the 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other travellers abducted in Imo State, urging the Federal Government to deploy every available intelligence, security asset and specialist capability to secure their release.
HURIWA says the reported discovery of the kidnappers’ forest hideout, coupled with the revelation that the camp has been surrounded by improvised explosive devices, makes the rescue operation an urgent national security priority.
The association demands that security agencies must not allow the mined forest terrain to become an excuse for prolonged delay in rescuing the victims.
HURIWA calls on the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Air Force to establish a unified rescue command and deploy specialised personnel trained in hostage rescue, explosive ordnance disposal, intelligence gathering and jungle operations.
The association further demands that security agencies maintain continuous aerial surveillance and ground intelligence around the identified hideout to prevent the kidnappers from relocating the victims or inflicting harm on them.
HURIWA 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.
The association also calls for 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 insists 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 to establish a dedicated liaison structure through which relatives can receive verified information about the rescue operation.
HURIWA equally urges the Federal Government to 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.
The association says those responsible for the abduction must be tracked, arrested and prosecuted after the victims have been safely recovered.
HURIWA also 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 says the latest incident cannot be treated as another isolated kidnapping case.
HURIWA notes that security incidents involving corps members have persisted since 2015 and intensified since 2023, raising serious concerns about the safety of a scheme that requires young Nigerians to travel across the country for compulsory national service.
The association therefore 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.
HURIWA says every minute matters in a hostage situation and urges the authorities to act with urgency, coordination and determination.

Signed
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
04 October 2026