If elected I will enter forests to rescue kidnap victims —Obi

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has vowed to lead rescue operations into forests to free kidnapped victims if elected president in 2027.

Obi made the pledge during a campaign rally in Bayelsa State, promising to tackle insecurity and ensure Nigerians can travel on the country’s roads without fear of abduction.

“If anybody takes schoolchildren, if anybody kidnaps anybody, I will go into the bush. We will go into that bush and rescue the person. Nobody will try that in our government,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor said securing the country would be a priority of an NDC-led administration, particularly in protecting schoolchildren and other vulnerable citizens.

He cited his recent road trips across several states as evidence of the urgent need to improve security on Nigerian highways.

“I came to Bayelsa this morning from Enugu by road; I moved around Nigeria by road. On Tuesday, I was in Lokoja; on Wednesday, I was in Akwanga; yesterday, I was in Ebonyi, and today I am in Bayelsa. Our roads must be secured,” Obi said.

He also pledged to unite the country and ensure that no region or group felt excluded from national affairs.

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Obi criticised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a lack of engagement with Bayelsa State, despite its contribution to Nigeria’s oil revenue.

He questioned Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips, arguing that the President should devote more time to visiting Nigerians across the country.

“This is a state where Nigeria discovered oil. This is a state where we get money we share, and the President said he will not come here to campaign,” he said.

Obi also promised to tackle corruption, improve access to education and expand electricity supply if elected.

He said public funds would be managed transparently and used for the benefit of citizens, adding that his administration would work with state governments to provide free basic education.

On electricity, Obi pledged that an NDC government would work towards producing, transmitting and distributing at least 10,000 megawatts.

The party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, who spoke earlier at the rally, urged Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 general elections and protect their votes.

Dickson said the NDC was prepared to offer Nigerians an alternative in the forthcoming elections.