The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged President Bola Tinubu to replicate across the country the intelligence-led security strategy that secured the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying the approach should be extended to hundreds of Nigerians still being held by kidnappers.
The opposition party made the call in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, while reacting to the successful rescue of the victims.
The ADC commended the Federal Government and security agencies for securing the release of the abductees without negotiating with their captors, following President Tinubu's disclosure that intelligence-driven operations, including targeting the families of the kidnappers, played a key role in the rescue.
According to the party, the successful operation demonstrated that the government possesses the intelligence capability, operational capacity and political will required to confront kidnapping effectively.
"Every Nigerian should celebrate the rescue of the Oriire victims. Every life saved from kidnappers is a victory for the country, and every family reunited with their loved ones deserves our collective relief," Abdullahi said.
The party, however, questioned why the same operational strategy had not been deployed to secure the release of other Nigerians who have remained in captivity for extended periods across different parts of the country.
"If the Federal Government has the intelligence network, operational capacity and political resolve to bring the victims in Oriire home without yielding to the demands of kidnappers, why has the same strategy not been applied to rescue other victims who have remained in captivity for much longer?" the statement read.
The ADC noted that several families in Kwara State are still awaiting the return of abducted relatives, while communities in Borno and other parts of the country continue to live with uncertainty over the fate of loved ones taken by kidnappers and insurgents.
It also identified Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue states as among the areas where many families are still expecting government intervention to secure the freedom of abducted relatives.
The party urged President Tinubu to demonstrate the same determination displayed during the Oriire rescue by extending similar intelligence, surveillance and operational efforts to every part of the country where kidnapping victims remain in captivity.
"The rescue in Oriire should not stand as an exceptional story that government recounts with pride. It should be the standard by which every response to kidnapping is measured," Abdullahi stated.
The ADC further argued that the true measure of the administration's security performance lies not only in resolving isolated cases but also in strengthening the nation's capacity to prevent kidnappings and ensuring that every Nigerian, irrespective of location, enjoys equal protection and prompt rescue efforts when abducted.
The party maintained that no family should be left wondering whether the speed and urgency of government intervention depend on where a kidnapping occurs, insisting that all victims deserve equal attention, commitment and protection from the authorities.
