Presidential candidate of the Accord Party in the 2027 general elections, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Sunday, urged the federal government to replicate the successful rescue of kidnapped victims in Oriire local government area of Oyo state in other parts of the country battling insecurity.
Hashim, in a statement commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) for rescuing victims who spent about 50 days in captivity.
He described the operation as evidence that Nigeria’s security agencies possess the capacity to defeat kidnappers, bandits and other criminal groups when backed by strong political leadership and coordinated action.
“We have never doubted the ability of Nigeria’s defence forces to secure the country. What has often been lacking is clarity of purpose and unwavering political leadership,” he said.
He recalled the Nigerian military’s peacekeeping successes in Liberia and Sierra Leone under the ECOMOG mission, saying the same professionalism should be deployed to end insecurity across Nigeria.
He said the determination that secured the release of the Oriire victims should now be extended to communities in Kwara, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kebbi and other states where kidnappers continue to hold victims.
“No family should be left to suffer when the state has the capacity to act,” he said.
The former presidential candidate also called for an integrated national strategy to dismantle terrorist and kidnapping networks, stating that sustained operations would restore public confidence and improve security nationwide.