Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, commended Nigerian security forces over the rescue of the medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State and the prospective corps members kidnapped in Zamfara in August 2023.
The former Anambra state governor in a statement released on his official X account on Saturday described the rescue of both the medical students and corps members as relieving and gladdening.
News About Nigeria earlier reported that the 20 medical students who were abducted in Benue State on their way to Enugu State for a convention were on Friday freed from the kidnappers’ den.
Giving details on the rescue, the police revealed that no ransom was paid as the rescue operation was coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser.
Similarly, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Major General Yusha’u Ahmed, also announced the rescue of all eight prospective corps members who were kidnapped along Funtua-Gusua Road in Zamfara State on August 17, 2023.
Reacting to these developments, Obi noted that beyond rescuing victims, the government and security agents must be more proactive in preventing these criminal activities from occurring in the future.
The LP chieftain also urged security agencies to ensure that those behind these acts are brought to book.
Obi’s statement partly reads, “The two media reports showing the rescue of the 20 medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State and the release of 8 National Youth Corps members by their captors are relieving and gladdening. The NYSC members were kidnapped in Zamfara on August 17 while travelling from Uyo in Akwa State to Sokoto State. I thank the combined team of security agencies—the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the military personnel, and everyone who contributed to the rescue of our children from captivity.
“I commend them for their gallant efforts and sacrifices. Beyond rescuing kidnap victims. I encourage the government, and our security agents to be more proactive in preventing these criminal activities from occurring in future and in ensuring that those behind these nefarious acts are brought to book. Until we fully declare war on insecurity in our nation, such ugly stories will continue to define our national existence.”
