Atiku to Tinubu: Abduction of Adelabu Family Shows No One is Safe

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the kidnapping of the sister and twin nephews of Chief Adebayo Adelabu, a former Minister of Power.

Daily Trust reported that the family members were taken in broad daylight in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

In a statement on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed his support for the Adelabu family. He said the incident shows the serious level of insecurity in Nigeria.

He was shocked that such a bold kidnapping could happen in the heart of Ibadan, especially at Challenge Bus Stop, which is one of the city's busiest spots.

Atiku pointed out that the fact that kidnappers could operate in such a public area without being stopped shows how bad security has become in the country.

He noted that while many ordinary Nigerians have suffered from kidnappings for years, "this latest incident raises a question that the Tinubu administration can no longer evade: if government officials have become desensitized to the suffering of ordinary citizens, should they not at least be alarmed when insecurity reaches the doorstep of one of their own?"

The former Vice President said families across the country are facing terrible trauma as kidnappers and criminals become more daring.

"Schoolchildren are abducted from classrooms, farmers are driven from their lands, travelers are kidnapped on highways, and entire communities are held hostage by fear. Yet, despite these grim realities, the government's response has too often been characterized by excuses, propaganda, and palliatives rather than decisive action."

Atiku emphasized that kidnappers do not check for party membership before attacking. They do not care if their victims are APC members or opposition supporters. They do not distinguish between ministers, former ministers, traders, teachers, students, or farmers. The same insecurity that has made life hard for ordinary Nigerians is now affecting those in government.

He said this tragedy should be a wake-up call for those responsible for the nation's security.

“If the endless cries of ordinary Nigerians were not enough to spur this government into action, one would have expected that an attack affecting the family of a former member of the administration would finally show the urgency of the crisis. Sadly, insecurity has become so widespread that no one is truly safe from its effects."

The former Vice President stressed that a government that cannot protect its citizens is failing in its most basic duty.

He criticized the situation where Nigerians now plan for ransom payments just like they plan for school fees and where parents live in fear of terrible phone calls about their loved ones.

Atiku called on the Tinubu administration to change its approach to security and quickly put in place a smart, intelligence-led strategy that can break up kidnapping gangs, protect vulnerable communities, and restore public trust in the state's ability to keep people safe.

He repeated his call for the immediate rescue of the victims and for the arrest and prosecution of their kidnappers. He also sent his prayers and support to the Adelabu family and to many other Nigerian families who suffer from worsening security issues.