Account for 176 Kwara abductees, stop ‘selective empathy’, ADC tells Tinubu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged President Bola Tinubu to account for the 176 residents of Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State who were abducted on February 3, 2026, accusing his administration of creating the impression that some victims of insecurity receive more attention than others.

The opposition party demanded regular updates and a clear rescue plan for the victims, saying the President’s public celebration of the recent rescue of abductees in Oyo State had intensified concerns over the fate of hundreds of Nigerians still in captivity across the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Bolaji Abdullahi, its National Publicity Secretary, the ADC said Nigerians deserved to know what progress had been made in rescuing the Woro abductees after more than 170 days in captivity.

The party also pointed to the recent abduction of about 40 residents from 11 communities in Mayanchi District of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, renewed killings in Benue’s Sankera axis, the kidnapping of Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court, and continued insurgent attacks in Borno State as evidence that insecurity remains widespread despite repeated assurances from the President.

“The President must ensure that his actions do not create the impression that the value of a Nigerian life depends on where the victim comes from or whether the tragedy attracts national headlines,” the statement said.

“Leadership demands equal compassion for every citizen because no country can build national unity on the basis of selective empathy and selective attention,” it added.

The ADC recalled that residents of Kaiama Local Government had staged a peaceful protest on July 24 over the continued captivity of the 176 Woro residents abducted on February 3, saying their families had received no satisfactory information on rescue efforts.

According to the party, the protest reflected the frustration of citizens who feared their loved ones had been abandoned.

It argued that the security crisis was worsening rather than improving, citing the Zamfara abductions, fresh attacks in Benue and the abduction of Justice Bunza in the early hours of Sunday.

“These are not isolated incidents. They are reminders that insecurity remains a daily reality for millions of Nigerians,” the statement added.

The ADC questioned the status of ongoing rescue operations for victims across the country, insisting that Nigerians deserved more than general assurances.

“What progress has been made in securing the release of the 176 abductees from Kaiama? What is being done to rescue the women and children taken in Zamfara?

What efforts are underway to secure the release of Justice Bunza? What updates are available on victims in Borno and other affected communities?” The party queried.

“The President owes Nigerians more than broad assurances. He owes them regular updates, timelines and evidence that no Nigerian community has been abandoned,” the ADC added.