Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed the Presidency’s allegation that he failed to acknowledge the rescue of abducted Oyo State schoolchildren and teachers.

Atiku described the claim as a distortion of facts, insisting that he issued a statement shortly after the victims regained freedom and commended the security agencies involved in the operation.

In a statement on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency’s accusation was either a result of poor verification or an attempt to ignore his earlier comments.

“It is astonishing that a Presidency with limitless public resources could accuse someone of silence without carrying out the most basic verification,” Atiku was quoted as saying.

The reaction followed comments by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who accused the former vice president of remaining silent nearly 18 hours after the victims were rescued.

Onanuga had also criticised Atiku for allegedly attacking the government over the abduction while praising Labour Party’s Peter Obi for his response to the development.

However, Atiku said his earlier statement titled “A Nation at War Needs a Commander-in-Chief, Not a Campaigner-in-Chief” welcomed the rescue and praised the courage and professionalism of the security personnel involved.

He argued that while the rescue was commendable, the government should not ignore the plight of other Nigerians still in captivity.

“The rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren brought joy to the nation, but Nigerians are still asking: when will the children abducted in Borno and other innocent citizens across the country also regain their freedom? Those questions remain unanswered,” he said.

Atiku also criticised President Tinubu for what he described as prioritising political activities over personally addressing the nation after the rescue operation.

He argued that the President should have appeared alongside security chiefs to brief Nigerians, acknowledge the efforts of troops and reassure families of victims still being held by kidnappers.

The ADC presidential candidate urged the Federal Government to focus more on tackling insecurity rather than engaging in political exchanges with the opposition.

“A government secure in its performance does not invent silence where there was a documented public statement. It responds to legitimate concerns with facts and results, not propaganda,” he said.

The 46 victims, comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers, were abducted on May 15 from Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

They were rescued on Friday after 57 days in captivity in an operation the Presidency said was achieved without negotiations with the abductors.