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, promising to tackle insecurity and restore public confidence in the country's security system.

Obi made the pledge during a campaign rally in Bayelsa State, where he assured supporters that his administration would make Nigeria safe for citizens to travel, work and carry out their daily activities without fear of attacks.

He said his government would prioritise national unity and ensure that no region or group felt marginalised, stressing that security would be central to rebuilding the country.

“We will make Nigeria work. We will make Nigeria a place where people will live. We will secure Nigeria. Nobody will live in Nigeria where you can’t travel on the road again,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor, who referenced his recent road journeys across several states, said the security of highways must be guaranteed to prevent travellers from falling victim to criminal attacks.

“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,” he said.

Obi also took a swipe at President Bola Tinubu over what he described as the President's failure to visit Bayelsa State, despite its significant contribution to the nation's oil revenue.

He questioned Tinubu's frequent foreign trips, arguing that the President should demonstrate greater commitment to engaging with Nigerians at home.

“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,” Obi said.

“Our President has travelled out of the country for over 200 days, sometimes 260 days, but he will not come to Bayelsa for one day, and he wants you to vote for him.”

On kidnapping, Obi vowed that his administration would take firm action against criminal elements, particularly those responsible for abducting schoolchildren and other innocent Nigerians.

“NDC will secure Nigeria under our government. 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 declared.

He further promised to tackle corruption through transparent management of public resources, insisting that government funds would be used to improve the welfare of citizens.

According to him, education would also receive priority attention, with his administration planning to collaborate with state governments to provide free basic education and ensure adequate classroom facilities.

“They say if you fight corruption, corruption will fight you back. And I’m telling you, under the NDC, you run away. You will not fight back because we will use public money for public good,” he said.

“Under NDC, your children will be in school; there will be classrooms. We will work with the states to ensure that basic education, which is primary, will be free.”

On electricity, the NDC candidate pledged to improve power supply by ensuring the generation, transmission and distribution of at least 10,000 megawatts.

“We will produce, transmit and distribute a minimum of 10,000 megawatts of electricity. The minimum we have today under APC is 4,000,” he said.

Obi said his proposed government would focus on improving security, eliminating corruption, expanding access to education and strengthening electricity supply as part of efforts to deliver better living conditions for Nigerians.