BY AHMED AKANBI
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy nationwide the same security strategy that led to the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement issued weekend, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the successful Oyo operation should become the template for tackling kidnapping across Nigeria.
The party commended the Federal Government for securing the release of the victims without negotiating with the abductors.
Tinubu had said security agencies relied on intelligence-led operations, including targeting the families of the kidnappers.
According to the ADC, every Nigerian should celebrate the rescue, describing every life saved from kidnappers as “a victory for the country” and every reunited family as deserving of relief.
However, the opposition party questioned why similar operations have not been carried out for hundreds of other Nigerians still in captivity.
“If the Federal Government has the intelligence network, operational capacity and political resolve to bring the victims in Oriire home without yielding to kidnappers, why has the same strategy not been applied to others?” the statement asked.
The ADC noted that many families in Kwara State continue to live in uncertainty over abducted relatives, while communities in Borno are still awaiting the return of loved ones taken by kidnappers and insurgents.
It also listed Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue among states where numerous families are still waiting for government intervention to secure the release of abducted relatives.
The party urged the President to demonstrate the same determination shown in the Oriire operation by extending intelligence, surveillance and operational efforts to all parts of the country where 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,” ADC said.
The party maintained that no family should be left wondering whether the urgency of government intervention depends on location, insisting that all victims deserve equal attention and commitment from the authorities.