Presidency responds to critics slamming Tinubu’s administration over quick rescue of former power minister Adebayo Adelabu’s sister and her kids while Ogbomoso schoolkids and teachers are still in captivity
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The Presidency on Sunday, June 7, rejected attempts to compare the recent rescue of relatives of former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu with the ongoing abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso, arguing that the two incidents present fundamentally different security challenges.Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, stated that critics drawing parallels between the two cases are ignoring the distinct nature of the crimes and the operational realities involved in responding to them.In a post on his Facebook page, Ajayi said it was wrong to equate the kidnapping of Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons with the mass abduction of schoolchildren and teachers by armed terrorists. “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 him, the kidnapping of Adelabu’s relatives was carried out by an urban criminal gang engaged in copycat abductions for 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,” Ajayi said.The presidential aide also rejected claims that security agencies were prioritising one set of victims over another based on 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 pray for the safe return of other kidnapping victims across the country.”We should be Excited 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 during a coordinated operation involving intelligence and tactical teams. The force said several suspects were arrested, and the victims were recovered unharmed.The successful operation sparked reactions online, with some users questioning why security agencies appeared able to swiftly secure the release of Adelabu’s relatives while dozens of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso remained in captivity. The Ogbomoso abduction occurred earlier when armed men reportedly attacked a school and whisked away pupils and members of staff. Security agencies have since launched search-and-rescue operations, although the victims have yet to regain their freedom. The post Presidency responds to critics slamming Tinubu’s administration over quick rescue of former power minister Adebayo Adelabu’s sister and her kids while Ogbomoso schoolkids and teachers are still in captivity appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.
