The Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of failing to demonstrate sufficient urgency in tackling insecurity, alleging that the government’s response has emboldened terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
The organisation made the allegations on Saturday through its Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa, citing the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South.
The campaign organisation described the incident as evidence of continuing concerns over the safety of Nigerians travelling between states and argued that the federal government should do more to protect citizens.
The claims represent the opposition campaign’s assessment of the administration’s security response and should not be treated as an independently established finding that government conduct emboldened criminal groups.
Campaign links abduction to wider security concerns
The abduction of prospective corps members has renewed attention to the risks faced by young Nigerians travelling for national service.
Such incidents can cause distress for families and raise concerns about the security of major roads, inter-state transport and routes used by students and other travellers.
The campaign organisation said the incident illustrated what it considers a failure by the federal government to provide adequate protection.
A full assessment of the government’s response would require examining security deployments, investigations, rescue efforts, prevention measures and the outcome of cases involving abducted travellers.
Makinde and Daura prepare for 2027 contest
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), while former Department of State Services Director-General Lawal Daura is his running mate, according to the campaign organisation’s announcement.
The campaign has promoted its “Reset Nigeria” agenda and sought to make security, governance and citizens’ welfare central issues in its political messaging. Earlier reporting described plans for town hall meetings across the six geopolitical zones.
The latest statement places insecurity among the issues the campaign intends to raise against the incumbent administration.
Security remains a central election issue
Insecurity has long affected several parts of Nigeria, with different regions facing distinct challenges, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence.
Assessing policy effectiveness requires more than campaign statements. Relevant indicators include the frequency and location of attacks, civilian casualties, the number of people rescued, prosecutions, the security of transport routes and changes over time.
The campaign organisation’s statement adds to the political debate over the government’s record. The administration’s response and independently verified security data will be important to a fuller assessment of the claims.
For affected families, however, the immediate priority remains the safe recovery of abducted victims and the prevention of further attacks.