Abductions: ADC hails Oyo rescue, urges FG to free Borno, Kwara victims

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the rescue of pupils, teachers and other victims abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after spending 56 days in captivity, but urged the federal government to demonstrate the same commitment in securing the release of schoolchildren and other victims still being held by kidnappers in Borno and Kaiama, Kwara State.

The opposition party said although every successful rescue operation deserves commendation, the government’s ultimate responsibility is to prevent kidnappings rather than merely responding after they occur.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC commended the security agencies and all those involved in the operation that led to the victims’ freedom.

“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 said.

The party, however, expressed concern that many families whose loved ones remain in captivity have not received the same level of attention.

“Even as we celebrate this positive development, we must not forget that many other families have lived through the same nightmare for much longer but appear not to receive the same level of attention.

“The pupils abducted in Borno State in May this year remain in captivity, while more than 100 people kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State are still in the den of kidnappers several months later.

“We believe that the suffering of these victims deserves the same urgency, determination, and national and international attention that brought the Oriire victims home,” the ADC said.

According to the ADC, the increasing wave of kidnappings underscores the need for the government to prioritise preventive measures rather than celebrating rescue operations as the benchmark for success.

“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 true measure of success is whether parents across Nigeria can send their children to school without fear, whether travellers can use our roads without anxiety, and whether ordinary Nigerians can go about their daily lives free from the constant threat of violent criminals,” the opposition party added.

The party argued that persistent insecurity under the current administration continues to undermine public confidence and economic development.

“Under the Tinubu administration, insecurity has become an accepted part of everyday life for too many Nigerians. This is unacceptable. We cannot achieve meaningful economic growth, attract investment or build public confidence while kidnapping remains a recurring feature of national life,” it said.

The ADC called on the federal government to sustain the momentum that led to the rescue of the Oriire victims by deploying the same intelligence, operational capacity and determination to secure the freedom of all Nigerians still in captivity.

“Every life matters equally. No victim should be forgotten because they are voiceless or lack vocal champions to keep their story in the headlines and on the national agenda,” the party stated.

It also urged the government to move beyond reactive security responses by implementing a comprehensive strategy that addresses the root causes of insecurity, strengthens intelligence gathering, improves inter-agency coordination and restores effective state presence in vulnerable communities.

“Today, we celebrate with the families in Oriire. But our celebration will not be complete until every abducted Nigerian returns home safely,” the statement added.