Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, 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 Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
Mr Atiku, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, called for the immediate and unconditional release of the victims and urged security agencies to deploy all available resources to secure their rescue and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The former vice president expressed solidarity with the Adelabu family, saying the incident highlighted the growing insecurity across the country and underscored the vulnerability of Nigerians regardless of social or political status.
According to him, the reported abduction, which allegedly took place at the busy Challenge Bus Stop area of Ibadan, was particularly alarming because of the prominence and high human traffic associated with the location.
“Atiku received with deep concern reports of the abduction of the sister and twin nephews of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu. He condemns this reprehensible act in the strongest possible terms and calls for their immediate and unconditional release,” the statement said.
The former vice president argued that the ability of kidnappers to operate in such a busy public area without interception reflected the worsening state of security in the country.
He noted that while ordinary Nigerians have suffered the scourge of kidnapping for years, the latest incident raises serious questions about the effectiveness of government efforts to tackle insecurity.
According to Atiku, if government officials have become accustomed to reports of abductions and attacks affecting ordinary citizens, they should at least be concerned when insecurity affects individuals connected to members of the political establishment.
He lamented the increasing frequency of kidnappings and violent crimes across the country, saying families continue to endure trauma as criminal gangs operate with growing boldness.
The former vice president cited the abduction of schoolchildren, attacks on farming communities, kidnappings of travellers and the displacement of rural populations as evidence of the deteriorating security situation.
He accused the Federal Government of failing to respond adequately to the challenge, arguing that official responses have often been marked by excuses and public relations efforts rather than decisive action.
Atiku stressed that insecurity affects all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation, social status or occupation.
“Kidnappers do not ask for party membership cards before striking. They do not distinguish between APC members and opposition supporters. They do not care whether their victims are ministers, former ministers, traders, teachers, students or farmers,” he said.
He added that the same insecurity that has made life difficult for ordinary citizens is now affecting people who may have previously believed they were insulated from its consequences.
Describing the latest incident as a wake-up call, Atiku said the government must recognise the urgency of addressing the security crisis before it worsens further.
“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 underscore the urgency of the crisis,” he said.
The former vice president maintained that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property, arguing that the inability to guarantee citizens’ safety amounts to a failure in governance.
He decried a situation where many Nigerians now live in constant fear of abduction and where families increasingly face the burden of raising ransom payments for kidnapped relatives.
Atiku therefore urged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to move beyond what he described as a reactive approach to security and adopt a comprehensive, intelligence-driven strategy aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks, securing vulnerable communities and restoring public confidence in security institutions.
He reiterated his call for the immediate rescue of Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons, as well as the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the abduction.
The former vice president also extended his prayers and support to the Adelabu family and other Nigerians affected by the country’s worsening security challenges.
“Nigerians deserve security, not excuses. They deserve protection, not palliatives,” the statement added.
