The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Federal Government to shift its focus from celebrating rescue operations to preventing kidnappings, insisting that the true measure of success in the fight against insecurity is ensuring that Nigerians can live without fear.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party welcomed the rescue of pupils, teachers and other victims abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after spending 56 days in captivity.
“We commend the security agencies and all those whose efforts made this rescue possible. Above all, we rejoice with the families whose long and traumatic wait has finally come to an end,” Abdullahi said.
While applauding the security agencies for the successful operation, the ADC stressed that the plight of other abductees still in captivity should receive equal attention.
“The pupils abducted in Borno State in May this year remain in captivity, while more than 100 people kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State, are still being held by their abductors several months later. We believe their suffering deserves the same urgency, determination, and national attention that helped secure the freedom of the Oriire victims,” the statement added.
The party argued that Nigeria should not evaluate progress against insecurity based solely on the number of successful rescue missions.
“We must not become accustomed to measuring success by the number of rescue operations conducted. 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 go about their daily lives free from the constant threat of violent criminals,” the ADC stated.
The opposition party further maintained that the persistent wave of kidnappings continues to undermine public confidence, discourage investment and hinder economic growth.
“Under the Tinubu administration, insecurity has become an accepted part of everyday life for too many Nigerians. This is unacceptable. We cannot achieve meaningful economic growth, attract investment, or build public confidence while kidnapping remains a recurring feature of national life,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward securing the release of all Nigerians still in captivity, urging security agencies to deploy the same level of commitment that led to the rescue of the Oriire victims.
“Every life matters equally. No victim should be forgotten simply because they are voiceless or lack influential advocates to keep their plight in the national spotlight,” the party said.
It also urged the government to adopt a proactive security strategy by strengthening intelligence gathering, improving inter-agency collaboration and restoring effective security presence in vulnerable communities across the country.
According to the party, although the rescue of the Oriire victims is commendable, the fight against kidnapping cannot be considered successful until every abducted Nigerian regains freedom.
