The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to extend the security approach used in rescuing abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to kidnapping victims in Kwara, Borno and other affected parts of the country.
In a statement on Friday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the Oyo rescue operation as a positive development but said the same level of intelligence, commitment and coordination should be applied to all kidnapping cases nationwide.
The call followed President Tinubu’s remarks on Thursday during a meeting with traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu had said his administration rejected negotiations with kidnappers and relied on security operations to secure the release of the abducted victims.
While commending the successful rescue, Abdullahi questioned why similar measures had not produced the same results for victims held captive in other states.
He said every rescued victim represents a victory for the country but argued that families affected by kidnappings in other regions also deserve the same urgency and attention.
According to the ADC spokesperson, several families in states including Kwara, Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue are still waiting for the return of their loved ones who remain in captivity.
He said those families were not seeking special treatment but only equal commitment from the government in responding to their plight.
Abdullahi urged President Tinubu to ensure that the intelligence capabilities, surveillance resources and operational determination deployed during the Oriire rescue are extended to other kidnapping hotspots.
“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,” he said.
The ADC maintained that no Nigerian family should feel that the urgency of government action depends on where an incident occurs, calling for a consistent nationwide approach to combating kidnapping.
