Presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 general election, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has commended Nigeria’s security agencies for the successful rescue of victims abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after about 50 days in captivity.
He said the operation demonstrates that the country’s security forces possess the capacity to defeat criminal gangs when given consistent political support.
In a statement issued at the weekend, Hashim described the rescue as a significant victory for the nation and argued that Nigeria’s security challenges stem less from the competence of its armed forces than from the need for sustained political direction and unwavering leadership.
“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.
The former presidential candidate cited the Nigerian military’s distinguished record in international peacekeeping missions, particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where Nigerian troops, operating under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), played leading roles in ending prolonged conflicts and restoring peace.
According to him, the successful rescue in Oriire should serve as a model for a coordinated nationwide campaign against kidnappers, bandits and other violent criminal groups terrorising communities across the country.
“The same determination that secured the freedom of the Oriire victims must now be deployed across every community where innocent Nigerians remain in captivity, including parts of Kwara l, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina,Benue,Nassarawa Plateau and Kebbi states. No family should be left to suffer when the state has the capacity to act,” he stated.
Hashim, who is also Co-Chair of the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR), urged the Federal Government to provide sustained strategic direction and stronger political backing for the nation’s security agencies. He also called on the security chiefs to replicate similar rescue operations across all affected parts of the country until every kidnapped victim is freed and criminal networks are dismantled.
“Above all, we must now take the fight to all terrorists occupying different parts of our country through an integrated strategy aimed at bringing an end to the terrorist war on our land,” he added.
He congratulated the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their courage, professionalism and sacrifice, describing the successful operation as a major boost to public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions.
Hashim also congratulated the rescued victims and their families, while praying for their speedy physical, emotional and psychological recovery from their 50-day ordeal.
