The Presidency has dismissed criticisms comparing the swift rescue of relatives of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, with the ongoing captivity of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso, insisting that both incidents involve fundamentally different security circumstances.
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said those drawing parallels between the two cases fail to appreciate the distinct nature of the crimes and the operational complexities involved in addressing them.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, June 7, Ajayi argued that it is inappropriate to equate the abduction of Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons with the mass kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers by armed terrorists.
“Those comparing the situation involving Adelabu’s sister and her twins with that of the Ogbomoso schoolchildren and their teachers are totally wrong,” he wrote.
According to Ajayi, the kidnapping of Adelabu’s relatives was carried out by an urban criminal gang motivated primarily by financial gain, while the Ogbomoso abduction was orchestrated by terrorists operating from remote forest hideouts.
“It is wrong to compare urban kidnappers who engage in copycat crimes for financial benefit and keep victims hidden in residential locations within communities to terrorists operating deep in the bush.
“The two groups have different motivations, methods and objectives,” he stated.
The presidential aide also rejected suggestions that security agencies were prioritising certain victims because of their social standing or political connections.
He maintained that security operatives remain committed to securing the release of all kidnapped persons, regardless of status.
“The Ogbomoso children and their teachers will be rescued. Government and security agencies are not selective, as some have falsely claimed. The approach to both incidents cannot be the same,” Ajayi said.
He urged Nigerians to celebrate the successful rescue of Adelabu’s relatives while continuing to support efforts aimed at securing the freedom of those still being held captive.
“We should be grateful that the woman and her twin sons have returned home safely while we continue to pray and work towards the speedy rescue of those still in the custody of their abductors,” he added.
The remarks come amid growing debate on social media following the announcement by the police that Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, a relative of Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, had been rescued after being abducted on June 3.
Police authorities disclosed that the victims were freed during a coordinated intelligence-led operation involving tactical units.
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Several suspects were reportedly arrested, while the victims were recovered unharmed.
The successful rescue prompted mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians questioning why security agencies appeared able to secure the release of Adelabu’s relatives within days, while scores of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso remain in captivity.
The Ogbomoso incident occurred when armed men reportedly attacked a school and abducted pupils and members of staff. Security agencies have since launched search-and-rescue operations, but the victims are yet to be freed.
The Presidency, however, maintains that the two cases involve different criminal networks, operational environments and security strategies, making direct comparisons misleading.
