ADC to FG: Stop Measuring Success by Rescues, Prevent Kidnappings

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 security is whether Nigerians can go about their daily lives 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 56 days in captivity.

The party commended the security agencies and all those involved in the operation, describing the rescue as a source of relief for the victims’ families.

“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.

However, the ADC warned against allowing the successful rescue to overshadow the plight of other Nigerians still being held by kidnappers across the country.

The party pointed to pupils abducted in Borno State and more than 100 people kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State, who remain in captivity, urging the government to accord their rescue the same urgency and determination.

According to the ADC, Nigeria should not evaluate progress against insecurity solely 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 statement read.

The party argued that persistent kidnapping continues to undermine economic growth, discourage investment and weaken public confidence in government.

It further stated that insecurity had become an unacceptable feature of daily life under the current administration.

The ADC called on the Federal Government to sustain the momentum from the Oriire rescue by deploying the same intelligence, operational capacity and determination to secure the release of every Nigerian still in captivity.

It also urged the government to adopt a comprehensive security strategy focused on intelligence gathering, improved inter-agency collaboration, stronger community security and tackling the root causes of insecurity, stressing that every abducted Nigerian deserves equal attention and protection.