The 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, saying the operation has demonstrated that criminal gangs can be defeated with strong political backing and strategic leadership.
The victims, who were held captive for about 55 days, were rescued in an operation involving security agencies, a development Hashim described as a major victory for Nigeria and a boost to public confidence in the country’s security institutions.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the former presidential candidate said the success of the operation showed that Nigeria’s security forces possess the capacity to tackle insecurity effectively when provided with consistent political support and clear strategic direction.
According to him, the country’s security challenges are not primarily due to the inability of the armed forces, but rather the absence of sustained political leadership and a coordinated national strategy.
“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,” Hashim stated.
He recalled the Nigerian military’s distinguished record in international peacekeeping operations, particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where troops serving under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) played pivotal roles in ending years of conflict and restoring peace.
Hashim said the successful rescue of the Oriire victims should serve as a template for a nationwide offensive against kidnappers, bandits and other violent criminal groups operating 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, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kebbi states. No family should be left to suffer when the state has the capacity to act,” he said.
The Accord Party flag bearer, who also serves as Co-Chair of the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR), urged the Federal Government to provide stronger political backing and sustained strategic direction to the nation’s security agencies to enable them to intensify operations against criminal elements.
He also called on the country’s security chiefs to replicate similar rescue operations in all affected parts of Nigeria until every kidnapped victim is freed and criminal networks are completely 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.
Hashim congratulated 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 in securing the victims’ release.
He also congratulated the rescued victims and their families, praying for their speedy physical, emotional and psychological recovery from their 50-day ordeal.