The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked the Federal Government to explain how 20 prospective corps members abducted in Imo State were freed.
The group wants to know if security forces rescued them or if a ransom was paid.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, welcomed the victims’ safe return. He praised President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Army Staff, the Director-General of the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force and other security personnel involved. He also commended what he called the apparent coordination and intelligence sharing among the agencies.
However, the association said the circumstances of the release raise questions. It noted that no suspected kidnapper has reportedly been arrested, captured or killed in connection with the abduction.
“Nigerians are not asking for operational secrets. They are asking for the truth,” the group said.
HURIWA added that there is nothing wrong in admitting that negotiations were used to save lives, since human life is priceless. What it rejects is a misleading account of how the victims were freed.
The group also listed questions it wants answered:
- Did the authorities negotiate with the kidnappers?
- Was a ransom paid, and who negotiated with the abductors?
- Have any suspects been identified or arrested?
- Did the kidnappers escape before security forces arrived?
“What kind of rescue operation ends with the victims returning safely but leaves the perpetrators completely untouched?” the association asked.
HURIWA said the questions matter because the abductors reportedly first demanded N50 million per victim, a total of N1 billion. They later lowered the demand to N5 million per person, or N100 million for all 20.
