Isaac Samuel
The Presidency has dismissed comparisons between the rescue of relatives of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the continued captivity of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso, insisting that the two incidents involve different security challenges.
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said critics drawing parallels between the cases failed to appreciate the differing circumstances surrounding the abductions and the operational approaches required to secure the victims’ release.
Ajayi said it was inappropriate to compare the abduction of Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons with the mass kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Ogbomoso.
According to him, the kidnapping of Adelabu’s relatives was carried out by an urban criminal gang seeking financial gain, while the Ogbomoso incident involved terrorists 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. The two sets of criminals have different motivations and agendas,” he stated.
Ajayi also dismissed suggestions that security agencies were prioritising victims based on social status or political connections, stressing that security operatives remained committed to rescuing all abductees.
“The Ogbomoso children and their teachers will be rescued, and government/security agencies are not selective as falsely claimed. The approach to the two incidents can’t be the same,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to celebrate the successful rescue of Adelabu’s relatives while continuing to pray for the safe return of other victims still in captivity.
The remarks followed public debate on social media after the Nigeria Police Force announced the rescue of Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, who were abducted on June 3.
Police authorities said the victims were rescued unharmed during a coordinated intelligence-led operation that also led to the arrest of several suspects.
The operation triggered reactions online, with some Nigerians questioning why security agencies were able to secure the release of Adelabu’s relatives quickly while schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso remain in captivity.
The Ogbomoso abduction occurred when armed men reportedly attacked a school and whisked away pupils and members of staff. Security agencies have since launched efforts to secure their release.
Security experts have noted that rescue operations often differ depending on factors such as the number of victims involved, available intelligence, terrain and the nature of the criminal groups responsible for the abductions.
