ADC urges Tinubu to replicate Oriire rescue strategy nationwide, calling for the same security approach in kidnapping cases across Nigeria
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to extend the intelligence-led security strategy that secured the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to kidnapping cases across the country.
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The call was made on Friday in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who said the successful operation in Oyo should become the standard for tackling abductions nationwide rather than remain an isolated achievement.
The ADC urges Tinubu to replicate Oriire rescue strategy after the President revealed that his administration rejected negotiations with the kidnappers and instead relied on intelligence-driven operations to secure the victims’ freedom.
Tinubu made the disclosure on Thursday while receiving traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to the President, security agencies relied on intelligence gathering, including targeting the kidnappers’ support network, instead of paying ransom.
Reacting to the development, Abdullahi welcomed the successful rescue but questioned why the same level of commitment had not been applied to other kidnapping cases across the country.
“Every Nigerian should be delighted with the outcome of this bold strategy by the Federal Government. Every life rescued from the hands of kidnappers is a victory for the country. Every family reunited with loved ones deserves relief,” he said.
He, however, argued that the success of the operation raised important questions about the government’s broader response to insecurity.
“If the Federal Government has the intelligence network, the operational capacity and the political resolve to bring the victims in Oriire home without yielding to the demands of kidnappers, why has the government not applied the same strategy to rescue other victims who have remained in captivity for much longer?” Abdullahi asked.
The opposition party said families in Kwara, Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue states continue to live with uncertainty over relatives who remain in the hands of kidnappers.
“There are still hundreds of families in Kwara State who wake up every day not knowing whether their loved ones are alive. There are still communities in Borno waiting for their loved ones to return. Across Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Benue and other parts of the country, countless families continue to wait for the phone call that never comes or simply for assurance that their government has not moved on,” the statement read.
ADC urged the President to demonstrate the same determination shown during the Oriire operation in every kidnapping case across Nigeria.
“The President told the kidnappers in Oriire, ‘No deal.’ He must demonstrate equal resolve and send an equally unmistakable message to families still waiting for a son, daughter, husband, wife or parent that the government has not forgotten them,” Abdullahi stated.
According to the party, the Oriire operation should serve as a model for future responses to kidnapping, with security agencies deploying similar intelligence, surveillance and operational resources wherever Nigerians are held captive.
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The statement added that the true measure of government performance lies not only in responding successfully to individual incidents but also in ensuring that every Nigerian receives equal protection regardless of where an abduction occurs.
