The African Democratic Congress has called on the Federal Government to shift focus from celebrating rescue operations to preventing kidnappings altogether. The opposition party made the plea on Saturday while acknowledging the successful release of pupils, teachers and other captives held for 56 days in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement, party national publicity secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi commended the security agencies involved in the operation. "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," he said.
However, the ADC warned that measuring security progress by successful rescues masks a deeper crisis. The party argued that true success means Nigerians can send children to school, travel roads and live daily life without fear of abduction.
The party drew attention to other victims still languishing in captivity. Pupils abducted in Borno State in May remain held, while over 100 people kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State, have spent months with their abductors.
"Their suffering deserves the same urgency, determination, and national attention that helped secure the freedom of the Oriire victims," Abdullahi noted.
According to the ADC, the country cannot judge progress solely by counting successful rescues. "We must not become accustomed to measuring success by the number of rescue operations conducted," the statement read.
The party stressed that genuine progress means parents feel safe sending children to school and travellers move without anxiety. It said kidnapping persists as an unacceptable feature of Nigerian life under President Tinubu's administration.
Insecurity is crippling economic growth and deterring investment, the ADC warned. The party added that public confidence continues eroding as violent crime remains a daily threat for millions.
"Under the Tinubu administration, insecurity has become an accepted part of everyday life for too many Nigerians. This is unacceptable," Abdullahi stated.
The ADC demanded the government sustain the momentum from the Oriire operation by securing release of every Nigerian held by criminal groups. The party insisted that all victims deserve equal attention regardless of prominence or public advocacy.
"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 opposition party insisted.
The party also urged authorities to move beyond reactive security measures and implement comprehensive strategies addressing root causes of insecurity. The ADC called for strengthened institutional capacity to prevent kidnappings before they occur rather than responding after victims are taken.
