By Peter Omopo
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to apply the same level of urgency and operational commitment that secured the release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State to victims still being held captive in Borno and Kwara states.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party commended security agencies for rescuing the Oriire Local Government Area schoolchildren, teachers and other victims after 56 days in captivity. It also congratulated the victims and their families on their release.
The party, however, stressed that many Nigerians abducted in other parts of the country have remained in captivity for months without receiving similar attention.
According to the ADC, pupils abducted in Borno State in May are still in captivity, while more than 100 people kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State, have yet to regain their freedom. The party argued that their plight deserves the same urgency, determination and national attention that led to the successful rescue operation in Oyo State.
While acknowledging the importance of rescue missions, the ADC maintained that such operations should not become the primary benchmark for measuring the government’s performance on security.
The party stated that every successful rescue is worth celebrating, but emphasised that the government’s foremost responsibility is to prevent kidnappings from occurring in the first place. It added that the true measure of success lies in creating an environment where children can attend school safely, travellers can use highways without fear, and citizens can go about their daily activities free from the threat of abduction.
The ADC further expressed concern that kidnapping has become a recurring feature of daily life in the country, warning that persistent insecurity continues to undermine public confidence and economic development.
It urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum that led to the rescue of the Oriire victims by deploying the same intelligence, resolve and operational capacity to secure the release of all Nigerians still in captivity.
The party also called for a comprehensive security strategy focused on improving intelligence gathering, strengthening collaboration among security agencies, addressing the root causes of insecurity and restoring effective government presence in vulnerable communities.
According to the ADC, while the rescue of the Oyo victims deserves national celebration, efforts to tackle insecurity will remain incomplete until every abducted Nigerian is safely reunited with their families.
