A volunteer humanitarian and rescue organization, the Uniquely Network Rescue Service (UNRS), has appealed to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to intervene in the alleged detention of 48 of its personnel by the Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The appeal was made during a press conference held on May 31, 2026, in Ibadan by officials of the organization, who expressed concern over what they described as the prolonged detention of their members in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Information of UNRS, Ajayi Ayodeji Johnson, the organization alleged that about 48 of its officers were arrested by the NSCDC on Friday, May 29, 2026, while carrying out preparatory activities ahead of the commissioning of the group’s Akwa Ibom State Administrative Command.
The organization claimed that the officers, led by Mr. Ude Ejike Ezekiel, were engaged in lawful humanitarian and rescue-related activities when NSCDC operatives reportedly stormed the venue and took them into custody.
UNRS further alleged that its senior official, Bishop Favour Adeshina Adekunle, who visited the NSCDC headquarters in Uyo to seek the release of the detained personnel, was also arrested and detained.
The group expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the arrests, alleging that they may have been connected to unresolved administrative issues between the organization and the state command of the NSCDC.
It argued that if the allegations were true, such actions could amount to an abuse of authority and a violation of the fundamental rights of the affected individuals.
The organization noted that many of the detained personnel are volunteers drawn from different walks of life, including students, civil servants, professionals, clerics and other members of the public who participate in humanitarian and emergency response activities.
UNRS described itself as a volunteer rescue and emergency response body committed to supporting security agencies through intelligence gathering, disaster response, public safety awareness and the protection of lives and property.
The organization urged the Minister of Interior to order the immediate release of the detained personnel and ensure that an independent and thorough investigation is conducted into the incident.
“We respectfully appeal for the urgent intervention of the Honourable Minister of Interior to secure the release of our officers and to ensure that justice is served in accordance with the rule of law,” the statement read.
The group also called for a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the arrests, insisting that humanitarian and volunteer organizations should be encouraged rather than hindered in their efforts to complement government agencies in emergency response and public safety initiatives.
As of the time of filing this report, the Akwa Ibom State Command of the NSCDC had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the statement.
The development has sparked concerns among members of the organization, who maintain that the detained volunteers were engaged in lawful activities and should be granted immediate freedom pending the outcome of any investigation.
UNRS said it remains willing to cooperate with relevant authorities and provide all necessary documentation relating to its operations and registration status with relevant government agencies to facilitate an amicable resolution of the matter.