The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to extend the security strategy that secured the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to other parts of the country battling kidnapping.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the successful operation in Oyo should become the standard for responding to kidnapping cases nationwide.
The statement followed President Tinubu’s remarks during a meeting with traditional rulers from Oyo State, where he revealed that the government refused to negotiate with the kidnappers and instead relied on security operations to secure the victims’ release.
While commending the rescue operation, the ADC questioned why similar efforts had not been deployed to rescue victims still being held in states such as Kwara, Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue.
“Every Nigerian should be delighted with the outcome of this bold strategy by the Federal Government. Every life rescued from the hands of kidnappers is a victory for the country,” Abdullahi said.
He, however, argued that the successful rescue also raises important questions.
“If the Federal Government has the intelligence network, the operational capacity and the political resolve to bring the victims in Oriire home without yielding to the demands of kidnappers, why has the government not applied the same strategy to rescue other victims?” he asked.
According to the ADC spokesperson, many families across the country are still waiting for the return of loved ones abducted by kidnappers.
“Those families ask for no special treatment. They ask only for equal humanity and equal citizenship,” Abdullahi stated.
He urged President Tinubu to demonstrate the same determination shown during the Oriire operation in every kidnapping case across the country.
“The President told the kidnappers in Oriire, ‘No deal.’ He must demonstrate equal resolve and send an equally unmistakable message that the government has not forgotten other victims,” he said.
The ADC maintained that the rescue operation in Oriire should not remain an isolated success story but should become the benchmark for future responses to kidnapping nationwide.
“The rescue in Oriire should not stand as an exceptional story. It should be the standard by which every response to kidnapping is measured,” Abdullahi added.
The opposition party also urged the Federal Government to immediately deploy the same level of intelligence, surveillance and operational commitment in every state where Nigerians remain in captivity.
