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.
The party, however, urged the Federal Government to give the same level of attention to people still being held by kidnappers in Borno and Kaiama, Kwara State.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the rescue as a positive development but said more must be done to prevent kidnappings across the country.
The ADC praised the security agencies and everyone involved in securing the victims’ release after 56 days in captivity.
“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, noted that pupils kidnapped in Borno State in May and more than 100 people abducted in Kaiama, Kwara State, remain in captivity.
It said their cases deserve “the same urgency, determination as well as the national and international attention that brought the Oriire victims home.”
The ADC stressed that while successful rescue operations should be celebrated, the government’s primary responsibility is to stop kidnappings from occurring.
“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 live their daily lives free from the constant threat of violent criminals,” the party said.
The party also claimed that insecurity has become part of everyday life for many Nigerians under the Tinubu administration, warning that the situation could affect economic growth, investment and public confidence.
The ADC called on the Federal Government to sustain the efforts that led to the rescue in Oyo and apply the same commitment to securing the release of all remaining kidnap victims.
“Every life matters equally. No victim should be forgotten because they are voiceless or lack vocal champions to keep their story on the headlines and national focus,” the statement added.
The party also urged the government to adopt a broader security strategy by improving intelligence gathering, strengthening coordination among security agencies, and addressing the root causes of insecurity.
