The Presidency has dismissed comparisons between the recent rescue of relatives of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the ongoing abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso, saying the two incidents involve different security dynamics and require different operational approaches.
Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, made the clarification on Sunday amid criticism from some Nigerians who questioned the speed with which Adelabu’s relatives were rescued compared to the continued captivity of the Ogbomoso victims.
In a post on his Facebook page, Ajayi argued that the two cases were fundamentally different and should not be viewed through the same lens.
“Those who are comparing Adelabu’s sister and her twins’ situation to the Ogbomoso kids and their teachers are totally wrong,” he wrote.
According to Ajayi, the kidnapping of Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons was carried out by an urban criminal gang motivated by financial gain, while the Ogbomoso abduction involved armed 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.
The presidential aide also rejected allegations that security agencies were prioritising certain victims because of their social status or political connections.
“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.
Ajayi urged Nigerians to celebrate the successful rescue of Adelabu’s relatives while continuing to support efforts aimed at securing the release of other victims still being held by abductors.
“We should be happy that the woman and his twins are safely home while we pray for quicker rescue of those still in the bush with their abductors,” he added.
The comments followed public debate on social media after the Nigeria Police Force announced the rescue of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, a relative of Adelabu, 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 operation involving intelligence and tactical units. Several suspects were also arrested in connection with the crime.
See Video of the operation
The successful operation generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians questioning why security agencies appeared able to secure the swift release of Adelabu’s relatives while schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso remain in captivity.
The Ogbomoso victims were reportedly taken away after armed men attacked a school. Security agencies have since launched search-and-rescue operations, but the victims have yet to be freed.