The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has questioned the progress of the Federal Government’s rescue operation for hundreds of people reportedly abducted in Niger State, saying Nigerians deserve to know what has happened since President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to bring the victims home.
President Tinubu directed the military, police, Department of State Services and other security agencies to launch a coordinated rescue operation after the mass abduction in Niger State. He also directed security chiefs to provide regular updates until all the victims were accounted for.
But HURIWA said the continued uncertainty surrounding the victims’ whereabouts had become unacceptable, particularly for families who were still waiting for information about their loved ones.
The group in a statement by its national coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko said about 600 residents of Dekera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida were reportedly abducted during the attack, while at least 30 people were reportedly killed.
The figure of 600 has not been independently verified. Niger State authorities had earlier said they were still trying to establish the number of missing persons.
HURIWA said the issue was no longer only about the initial attack but about the government’s ability to account for citizens taken hostage in a large-scale operation.
The rights group demanded that the Federal Government explain the progress of the rescue mission and provide affected families with credible information.
“A presidential order to rescue abducted citizens cannot end as a statement in the media. Nigerians need results. Families need information. The abducted citizens need to come home alive,” HURIWA said.
The organisation said reports of a woman allegedly abducted with her husband and three children, including a newborn baby, illustrated the human cost of the crisis.
HURIWA also raised concerns over the destruction of homes and the displacement of residents following the attack.
It urged the Federal and Niger State governments to provide displaced residents with food, shelter, medical assistance and adequate security.
The group further demanded an investigation into how the attackers were able to carry out a mass abduction in broad daylight.
Reuters reported that the attack had raised fresh concerns about security failures in parts of northern Nigeria, with security experts describing the scale of the incident as a major warning sign.
HURIWA called on security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated operations to locate the victims.
It also urged the government to establish a dedicated communication channel for families of the abducted residents.
The association warned that failure to provide regular information could deepen public distrust and leave affected families feeling abandoned.
HURIWA therefore demanded answers, visible rescue operations and accountability, insisting that the government must demonstrate that President Tinubu’s order is being translated into concrete action.