?Demands death penalty for terrorists, border fencing, and citizens? right to bear arms

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised fresh alarm over the rising wave of kidnappings, terrorism, and alleged human organ harvesting in Nigeria, calling for sweeping reforms in national security and the enactment of enforceable legal frameworks to confront the crisis.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, HURIWA condemned recent attacks in Niger and Kwara states where suspected bandits abducted at least 32 people, destroyed property, and displaced residents. The group described these incidents as part of a broader pattern of insecurity that has gripped various parts of the country.

HURIWA warned that unless the Federal Government adopts firm policies and discards the current practice of rehabilitating ?repentant terrorists,? Nigeria risks descending into full-blown anarchy. It said the policy only recycles terrorists and bolsters existing terror cells.

?We are horrified by the continued mass abductions in Niger, Kwara, Taraba, and other states. These are not isolated events; they reflect an entrenched and dangerous network of terrorism, often linked to organ harvesting. Human lives are being commodified while the government stalls on decisive action,? said HURIWA?s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.

The group cited the recent invasion of Gulbinboka, Kakihun, and Kumbashi in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, where armed bandits on motorcycles abducted scores, razed a secondary school, and torched a security vehicle. In Kwara, two teenage girls were kidnapped in Babanla community, while the wife of a traditional ruler narrowly escaped abduction.

?These events are symptoms of a failing state,? HURIWA stated, reiterating its call for the abolition of amnesty programmes for terrorists, which it says emboldens criminality and weakens justice.

The organization advocated for a national legal framework that imposes the death penalty for terrorism and kidnapping. It urged state governors to sign execution warrants for convicted offenders and recommended public executions in affected communities to deter future crimes and restore public confidence.

HURIWA also proposed the creation of a fast-tracked judicial system for handling terrorism and kidnapping cases, lamenting that delays in the current justice process allow suspects to evade punishment or return to crime.

Given the inadequacies of existing security agencies, the group called for the liberalization of firearm ownership. It stressed that responsible citizens?those with sound mental health, no criminal record, and certified training?should be allowed to own firearms to protect themselves and their communities.

Reviving its 2014 call, HURIWA advocated the construction of physical border fences to block the inflow of foreign fighters and arms. It commended the Chief of Defence Staff for recently backing the idea, noting that many border communities, particularly in Taraba, remain vulnerable to external attacks.

The group further demanded the criminalization of ransom payments?especially those facilitated by government agents?arguing that such transactions sustain the kidnapping economy. It called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to dismantle financial networks supporting terrorism and alleged organ trafficking.

?The financial pipelines sustaining these criminal enterprises must be severed. Intelligence agencies must prioritize the disruption of terror financing and organ trade syndicates over political surveillance,? the group asserted.

HURIWA sympathized with victims of the recent attacks and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exhibit the political will to adopt bold security measures that put the safety of citizens first. It cautioned against policies that reward impunity and undermine national security.

Finally, the group urged citizens and civil society organizations to increase advocacy for laws that effectively punish crimes and protect lives. It warned that without urgent and radical reforms, Nigeria will remain trapped in a vicious cycle of violence and insecurity.

Update news