NYSC Abduction: Group Urges Unified Security Command Over Mined Imo Kidnappers’ Hideout
ABUJA—The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded the immediate and safe rescue of 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other travellers abducted in Imo State.
The rights group urged the Federal Government to deploy every available intelligence asset and specialist military capability to secure their release.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, HURIWA welcomed the intelligence that security agencies have discovered the kidnappers’ forest hideout, though reportedly surrounded by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, stated that the mined terrain must not become an excuse for a prolonged delay in rescuing the victims.
“The safety of the hostages must remain the overriding consideration throughout this operation,” Onwubiko said. “We warn against any reckless action that could put the lives of these young Nigerians at greater risk.”
The association called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Air Force to immediately establish a unified rescue command.
HURIWA is demanding the deployment of specialised personnel trained in hostage rescue and jungle operations, explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and continuous aerial surveillance and ground intelligence.
The statement urged security forces to establish a secure perimeter around the identified hideout to prevent the kidnappers from relocating the victims or inflicting harm. HURIWA advised the military to cut off all possible escape routes and use lawful means to isolate the criminals while creating a safe corridor for the recovery of the hostages.
Furthermore, the group called for regular, credible updates to be provided to the victims’ families through a dedicated liaison structure to combat misinformation and ease anxiety.
Call for Temporary NYSC Suspension
HURIWA noted that security incidents involving corps members have persisted since 2015 and intensified sharply since 2023. The organization raised serious concerns about the safety of a scheme that requires young Nigerians to travel across volatile corridors for compulsory national service.
Consequently, the association renewed its call for a comprehensive review of the NYSC scheme. This includes a proposal for a one-year suspension of the program to allow the Federal Government to develop a sustainable security framework.
“While the immediate priority is strictly the lives of those currently in captivity, the future of the scheme must be addressed,” the statement continued. “This cannot be treated as another isolated kidnapping case. Every minute matters in a hostage situation, and the authorities must act with absolute coordination and determination.”
HURIWA insisted that the operation must not end with the release of the hostages alone. It demanded that intelligence-led measures be used to identify, arrest, and prosecute the kidnappers and their internal collaborators.
The group also demanded immediate medical, psychological, and welfare support for the victims upon their release to address the trauma of prolonged captivity.
