By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the abduction of the sister and twin nephews of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, describing the incident as further evidence of the worsening insecurity confronting Nigeria.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Wednesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, expressed sympathy with the Adelabu family and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the victims.
He also urged security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their rescue and ensure that those responsible for the abduction are apprehended and brought to justice.
READ ALSO:Ekiti Court Remands Vice Chairman Over Staged Kidnap
The former Vice President said the reported kidnapping, which occurred in the busy Challenge area of Ibadan, Oyo State, highlighted the growing boldness of criminal elements and the inability of security agencies to effectively curb their activities.
According to him, the fact that kidnappers could successfully carry out such an operation in one of the state’s busiest commercial districts without immediate interception raises serious concerns about the nation’s security architecture.
Atiku argued that the incident should serve as a wake-up call to the Federal Government, noting that insecurity has become a national emergency affecting Nigerians irrespective of their social status, political affiliation, or economic standing.
“While millions of ordinary Nigerians have endured the horrors of kidnapping for years, this latest incident raises a question the government can no longer avoid. If those in authority 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?” he stated.
READ ALSO:Owo Church Attack: Four Terrorists Sentenced to Death
He lamented the increasing wave of kidnappings and violent crimes across the country, saying many Nigerians now live in constant fear as criminals continue to target schoolchildren, farmers, travellers, and entire communities.
The former Vice President accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of responding inadequately to the security challenges facing the country.
According to him, government responses have often been reactive rather than proactive, while criminal networks continue to operate with increasing sophistication and audacity.
Atiku maintained that kidnappers do not discriminate between political parties or social classes, stressing that every Nigerian remains vulnerable under the current security situation.
“The same insecurity that has turned the lives of ordinary Nigerians into a daily nightmare is now knocking on doors many in government may have assumed were beyond its reach,” he said.
He further argued that any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has fallen short of one of its primary constitutional responsibilities.
The former Vice President expressed concern that many Nigerians now factor potential ransom payments into their financial planning, a development he described as a disturbing reflection of the country’s security reality.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to adopt a comprehensive intelligence-driven security strategy aimed at dismantling kidnapping syndicates, securing vulnerable communities, and restoring public confidence in law enforcement agencies.
Atiku reiterated his demand for the immediate rescue of the victims and the prosecution of those behind the crime.
“Nigerians deserve security, not excuses. They deserve protection, not palliatives,” he said.
