The All Progressives Congress has appealed to citizens across Nigeria and the international community to demonstrate patience and trust in the country’s security agencies as they continue operations aimed at rescuing abducted schoolchildren and tackling widespread insecurity.
In a detailed interview on the Nigerian national news programme, Morning Brief, broadcast by Channels Television, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Felix Morka, emphasized that safeguarding the lives of abducted minors remains the absolute priority of the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, security operatives must balance the urgent need for rescue with the responsibility to avoid any action that could worsen the danger faced by victims.
“The lives and safety of the children in these recent abductions are a priority; it is non-negotiable. You cannot do anything that jeopardises those children,” he said.
Okay News reports that Mr Morka noted the complexity of rescue missions involving children, explaining that even the most highly trained personnel must operate with extreme caution in such environments. He added that using excessive force could escalate threats, leading to unintended harm.
He appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting the nation’s military, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security institutions as they confront armed groups across various regions.
“We must really be patient with our law enforcement and our security forces,” he stressed.
Mr Morka also praised the commitment of security personnel who are “putting their lives on the line” daily to secure communities nationwide.
“As a party, we are full of respect and commendation for all of our troops,” he added.
The party spokesperson also expressed optimism that those responsible for the ongoing abductions and violent attacks will eventually be arrested and prosecuted.
“In the fullness of time, these people will be brought to justice… they should and must face the law and have their day in court,” he said.
Recent developments show that one hundred schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, located in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State in central Nigeria, were rescued and transported to Minna, the state capital, where the Governor of the state, Mr Mohammed Bago, received them.
The mass abduction, which took place on November twenty-first during an attack that lasted nearly three hours, initially involved three hundred and fifteen victims, including three hundred and three students and twelve teachers. Around fifty children escaped within the first twenty-four hours, while many others remain in captivity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, welcomed the return of the one hundred pupils and reaffirmed that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining one hundred and fifteen students and their teachers. He directed security agencies to intensify search operations to ensure all victims return safely.
