There are concerns over the government’s inability to rescue members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), five months after they were abducted.

The eight members were kidnapped by terrorists in Zamfara, on their way from Akwa Ibom to the orientation camp in Sokoto State.

Two later regained freedom, apparently after paying ransom. The others, however, appeared to have been abandoned by the government of Nigeria.

They were abducted by gunmen on August 17, on a highway in Zamfara State.

A statement by Publicity Director of NYSC, Eddy Megwa, had noted: “The Nigerian Army recently secured the release of male and female abductees, while efforts are seriously ongoing to ensure the safe release of the remaining four prospective corps members.”

It added that NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Yush’au Ahmed, reassured the public, “especially the parents of the remaining four abductees that the scheme, in conjunction with security agencies, will explore every available strategy to ensure they are released unhurt and reunited with their families.”

Reacting to the development, yesterday, a security expert, Mahmud Abdul, lamented the government’s inability to protect the helpless youths and its perceived silence on the issue.

A relative of one of the victims, who pleaded anonymity, lamented that their wards were left at the hands of the terrorists in the forest for so long, heightening fears that they might have been killed.

Also, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the failure of the federal government to secure the release of the corps members after five months in captivity.

The group said the only way to describe what is happening under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that Nigeria is not just sick but it has failed.

HURIWA said: “It is now common knowledge that whenever a citizen becomes a victim of organised and sophisticated crime, such as terrorism and kidnappings for ransom, the majority of observers would say that ‘Nigeria has happened’ to the person.”

The group said this phrase is unfortunate because it represents the state of heightened insecurity in Nigeria, in which a government that ought to exercise the right to use controlled violence, and whose primary constitutional duty is to secure the lives of the citizens, has been overwhelmed by armed non-state actors.

It said: “That the current administration would just shut her eyes on these corps members and let their parents and kidnappers be negotiating for ransom; and let these Nigerians stay in the lawless Zamfara forests for five months and yet the Inspector-General of Police who is statutorily responsible for internal security hasn’t been queried by President Tinubu, shows that this government attaches no importance to the lives of commoners. This is a crime against humanity.”

HURIWA said as much as the NYSC management has no control over the security of the nation, it should, as a policy, stop posting corps members to all the North West states, aside Kano, until the security situation improves.

It said this is because the Federal Government is not prepared to do what is required to rescue the corps members because “most of these youngsters are children from poor households”.

The group also condemned the situation where heads of security institutions are not being held accountable for wanton breaches all over the country.

It said this proves that “Nigeria is a failed state”.