The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised a fresh alarm over the rising wave of kidnappings, terrorism, and alleged human organ harvesting in Nigeria.

The group called for sweeping reforms in national security and the enactment of enforceable legal frameworks to confront the crisis. In a statement yesterday in Abuja, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, 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. The group 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 Onwubiko.

The group cited the recent invasion of Gulbinboka, Kakihun, and Kumbashi in Mariga Local Council 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 the 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 embolden criminality and weaken justice.

The organisation 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 liberalisation 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 criminalisation of ransom payments, especially those facilitated by government agents, arguing that such transactions sustain the kidnapping economy.

It also 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 prioritise the disruption of terror financing and organ trade syndicates over political surveillance,” the group asserted.

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