The Democratic Front (TDF) has expressed relief and joy over the successful rescue of 44 pupils and teachers kidnapped by terrorists from Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State on 15 May 2026.
It said in a statement signed by its Chairman Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary Wale Adedayo that it was impressed with the professionalism and camaraderie displayed by security agencies during the well coordinated rescue operation.
“It is important to state that this recent rescue of 44 students and teachers kidnapped by terrorists in Oyo State is a landmark record in the architecture of rescuing victims of terrorism and banditry since the coming to power of the Tinubu administration in May 2023.
“However, we have observed that opposition politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the NDC presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi, who have been the most strident and vociferous critics of the government over the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, are suddenly lukewarm in their response since the successful rescue operation was announced.
“We note also that they displayed absolute inability and lack of understanding to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pragmatic economic reforms and programs, by not presenting alternative blueprints to the electorates.
“Rather, the two opposition leaders have engaged in scandal fishing by inventing faults where there is none in a desperate bid to undermine the huge performance record of the Bola Tinubu administration.
“TDF is therefore glad that the opposition’s hope to weaponize the Oyo terrorist attack as a campaign issue against President Tinubu in the forthcoming 2027 presidential contest is further dashed by the sterling and successful rescue of the 44 pupils and teachers.
“Similarly, it is equally disheartening that the ego-driven politics of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi has negatively influenced Nigerian politics and politicians towards elevating personal rules over public policies.
“The duo’s refusal to acknowledge the valiant accomplishments of the Tinubu administration in the areas of Security as well as Infrastructure and Economic Development in the last three years, have reduced them into political clowns in the public space, and have also kept their political camps in disarray,” the statement added.
The group urged the authorities to remain focused on sustaining the current momentum in the ongoing war against insecurity
