The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to apply the same level of urgency and operational commitment that led to the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State to victims still being held captive in Borno and Kwara states.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party praised the successful rescue of the pupils, teachers, and other victims abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after 56 days in captivity.
The party congratulated the rescued victims and their families, commending the security agencies and all those involved in the operation.
“We commend the security agencies and all those whose efforts made this rescue possible. Most importantly, we rejoice with the families whose long traumatic wait for the safe return of the victims has finally come to an end,” the statement read.
However, the ADC stressed that the successful operation should not overshadow the plight of other Nigerians who remain in captivity across the country.
According to the party, pupils abducted in Borno State in May are still being held by their captors, while more than 100 people kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State, have remained in captivity for several months.
“The suffering of these victims deserves the same urgency, determination, and national attention that brought the Oriire victims home,” the party stated.
The ADC also argued that while rescue operations are commendable, they should not be the primary benchmark for evaluating the government’s performance on security.
“Every successful rescue is worth celebrating. But every kidnapping is also a reminder that the primary duty of government is to ensure that citizens are not abducted in the first place. What we must not do is get accustomed to measuring success by the number of rescue operations this government conducts,” the statement added.
The party maintained that the true measure of success should be the creation of a secure environment where children can attend school without fear, travellers can move freely on highways, and citizens can carry out their daily activities without the threat of abduction.
Expressing concern over the country’s security situation, the ADC warned that persistent kidnappings continue to erode public confidence and hinder economic growth.
“We cannot achieve meaningful economic growth, attract investment, or build public confidence while kidnapping remains a recurring feature of national life,” the statement said.
The opposition party urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum that led to the rescue of the Oriire victims by deploying the same resolve, intelligence, and operational capacity to secure the release of all Nigerians still in captivity.
