By Nathan Yohanna
ABUJA, October 9, 2026 — The safe return of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State has sparked renewed calls for accountability, with the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) demanding answers about the circumstances surrounding their release.
The organisation’s demand comes as relatives of the rescued victims reveal that some families paid millions of naira in ransom after the corps members spent seven days in captivity while travelling to their orientation camp.
The victims were released alongside another abducted person during an operation involving the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
While the successful return brought relief to families, HURIWA said the public needed to know whether the victims were rescued directly from the kidnappers’ hideout or freed after ransom negotiations.
“Were the 20 prospective corps members actually rescued by the security forces, or were they released after the payment of ransom?” the organisation asked.
The question has gained urgency following accounts broadcast by News Central Television, in which relatives described raising substantial sums to secure their loved ones’ freedom.
One mother said she paid N3 million after struggling to raise the money, eventually arranging for someone to deliver it to Imo State. Another victim’s father said families gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State, to contribute money, with some reportedly converting their funds into dollars before sending them to the state.
The father expressed relief at his son’s return but lamented the financial burden, explaining that he was a farmer.
HURIWA also highlighted reports that the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each victim, translating to N1 billion for the 20 corps members, before reducing the demand to N5 million per person, or N100 million in total.
The organisation commended the security agencies for the safe return of the victims but questioned what happened after operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout.
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According to the Imo State Police Command, operatives used drone surveillance to trace the location but faced difficulties accessing it after reportedly discovering improvised explosive devices planted in the area. Bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers were subsequently deployed to facilitate access.
HURIWA noted that no suspected kidnapper had been publicly reported arrested in connection with the abduction, adding to its concerns about the outcome of the operation.
The rights organisation, however, clarified that its questions did not amount to an accusation that any government agency had paid ransom. Instead, it maintained that transparency was necessary to establish how the victims regained their freedom and what steps were being taken to pursue their abductors.
Meanwhile, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the Nigerian Army, police, DSS and other security agencies for their role in the safe return of the corps members and another recently abducted person in the South-East.
Marwa described the operation as proof of the value of coordinated, intelligence-driven security efforts. He added that corps members serving the country deserved the nation’s protection.
The latest revelations have placed two issues at the centre of public attention: the relief of families reunited with their loved ones and the need for clear answers about the operation that secured their freedom.
For HURIWA, the next step is greater transparency about the release and accountability for those behind the abduction.
