Presidency: Comparing Adelabu Family Kidnap to Oyo School Abduction Is Wrong

The Presidency has said it is inappropriate to compare the kidnapping of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons with the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.

 

Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, made the clarification in a post on his verified X handle on Sunday.

 

Ajayi said the two incidents involved different categories of criminals and required different security approaches.

 

According to him, those drawing parallels between the rescue of Adelabu’s relatives and the ongoing captivity of the Ogbomoso schoolchildren and teachers are overlooking the distinct nature of both cases.

 

“It’s totally wrong to compare these two abduction incidents. The two sets of criminals have different motivations and agendas,” he stated.

 

Ajayi explained that while one case involved an urban kidnapping syndicate allegedly hiding victims within a community for financial gain, the other involved armed groups operating from remote forest locations.

 

“It is wrong to compare the urban gang of kidnappers who engage in copycat crime to make money and hide victims inside a flat within the community to a band of terrorists operating deep inside the bush,” he said.

 

The presidential aide assured that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers.

 

“The Ogbomoso children and their teachers will be rescued. Government and security agencies are not as selective as falsely claimed. The approach to the two incidents can’t be the same,” he added.

 

Ajayi also urged Nigerians to celebrate the safe rescue of Adelabu’s sister and her children while continuing to pray for the safe return of those still in captivity.

 

“We should be happy that the woman and her twins are safely home while we pray for quicker rescue of those still in the bush with their abductors,” he said.

 

Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons were rescued by the Nigeria Police late Saturday after being held by kidnappers. The rescue came amid ongoing security operations to free schoolchildren and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State.