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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the rescue of the pupils, teachers and other victims abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after 56 days in captivity, while urging the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the release of schoolchildren and other victims still being held by kidnappers in Borno and Kaiama, Kwara State.
ADC, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the successful rescue as encouraging and commended the security agencies and all those whose efforts made the operation possible.
ADC also expressed joy with the families of the rescued victims, noting that their prolonged period of anxiety and uncertainty had finally come to an end.
The opposition party, however, warned against allowing the successful rescue to overshadow the plight of many Nigerians who remain in captivity across the country.
According to the party, pupils abducted in Borno State earlier this year, as well as more than 100 residents kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State, are still awaiting freedom and deserve the same level of urgency and national attention.
While acknowledging that every successful rescue deserves celebration, the ADC maintained that the ultimate responsibility of the government is to prevent kidnappings from occurring in the first place.
The party said the true measure of progress in the fight against insecurity is not the number of rescue operations conducted but the ability of Nigerians to live, travel and send their children to school without fear.
ADC expressed concern that insecurity has continued to disrupt normal life in many parts of the country, warning that lasting economic growth and national development cannot be achieved while kidnapping remains widespread.
The party called on the Federal Government to build on the momentum of the Oyo rescue by deploying the same determination, intelligence and operational capacity to secure the release of every Nigerian still in the hands of kidnappers.
It also urged the government to adopt a more comprehensive security strategy by strengthening intelligence gathering, improving inter-agency collaboration and enhancing the protection of vulnerable communities across the country.
The ADC said while it joins Nigerians in celebrating the safe return of the Oriire victims, the nation’s joy will only be complete when every abducted citizen is reunited with their families.
