(Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Photo by Daily Post)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the abduction of the sister and twin nephews of former Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu as yet another stark illustration of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity crisis, arguing that the incident demonstrates that no one regardless of their status or connections is immune from the country’s growing kidnapping menace.
Condemning the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate called for the immediate and unconditional release of the victims and urged security agencies to deploy every available resource to secure their rescue and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Expressing solidarity with the Adelabu family, Atiku said the circumstances of the abduction were particularly alarming given that it reportedly took place at Challenge Bus Stop one of the busiest and most visible locations in Ibadan.
He argued that the brazenness of the attack, carried out in such a prominent public space without fear of interception, speaks to the severity of the security breakdown in the country.
He noted that while ordinary Nigerians have long borne the brunt of kidnapping and violent crime, this latest incident raises uncomfortable questions for the Federal Government.
In his view, if those in authority had grown desensitised to reports of insecurity affecting everyday citizens, the crisis reaching the doorstep of people connected to government should serve as a sobering wake-up call.
Atiku stressed that kidnappers make no distinction based on social standing, political affiliation, or occupation, warning that the same insecurity that has made life a daily ordeal for ordinary Nigerians is now encroaching on circles that some in government may have assumed were beyond its reach.
He lamented that kidnapping and violent crime have become so pervasive that entire families now live in fear, with some reportedly factoring potential ransom payments into their financial planning and parents constantly anxious about the safety of their children and relatives.
He urged the Tinubu administration to move away from a reactive approach to security and instead adopt a comprehensive, intelligence-driven strategy focused on prevention, dismantling criminal networks, securing vulnerable communities, and restoring public confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives and property.
The abduction comes amid mounting concerns over a resurgence of kidnapping across various parts of Nigeria. Criminal gangs have increasingly targeted travellers, students, farmers, and urban and rural residents in recent years, often demanding large ransoms.
Security analysts have consistently warned that the persistence of such crimes poses a serious threat to public confidence in the country’s security architecture and demands stronger coordination among intelligence and law enforcement agencies.