Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has commended the rescue of 360 people abducted by terrorists in Ngoshe, Borno State, while calling on authorities to step up efforts to secure the release of other Nigerians still held by kidnappers and insurgents.
The rescue operation was carried out by troops of Operation HADIN KAI, who freed the victims from the Mandara Mountains, a known terrorist hideout in southern Borno State.
The abductions reportedly followed an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military base in Ngoshe, during which operational vehicles were burnt, the base was overrun, an unspecified number of people were killed, and several residents were taken hostage.
In a statement shared on his X account on Monday, Atiku expressed satisfaction with the development, saying it brought relief to the victims and their families after months of anxiety since the March incident.
“I am elated at reports of the rescue of 360 persons who were abducted by terrorists in Ngoshe, Borno State,” he said.
“I acknowledge the role of the military and all other security agencies that were involved in the safe rescue of the Ngoshe abductees,” he stated.
He further expressed confidence that Nigeria’s security forces could defeat insurgency if properly equipped and supported with strong political leadership.
“I am confident that if provided with the necessary tools and much-needed political leadership, the military will bring to an end the nearly two decades of insurgency,” he said.
While welcoming the rescue, he urged government and security agencies to intensify efforts to free other abducted Nigerians, including schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, and Mussa, Borno State.
“Even as we savour this rescue, I urge the government and the military to intensify efforts to rescue nearly 100 school children and teachers abducted in Oriire, Oyo State and Mussa, Borno State and all other Nigerians still in the custody of terrorists and bandits,” he said.
He also called for reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture, emphasising intelligence gathering, technology, and preventive strategies to stop attacks before they occur.
“More importantly, I call for a rejig of our security architecture that places emphasis on intelligence, technology and preemptive actions that nips in the bud terrorist and banditry attacks before they are carried out,” he added.
The military described the operation as one of its most significant hostage rescue missions in the North-East in recent times, noting that it followed weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated planning that led to the safe recovery of men, women, and children held in captivity under harsh conditions.