Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the abduction of family members of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, describing the incident as a stark reflection of Nigeria's deepening insecurity crisis.
Reacting to reports that Adelabu's sister and twin nephews were kidnapped in Ibadan, Oyo State, Atiku expressed solidarity with the family and called for urgent action to address the country's worsening security challenges.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 3, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said the incident was particularly alarming because it occurred in broad daylight at Challenge Bus Stop, one of the busiest locations in Ibadan. According to Atiku, the ability of kidnappers to operate in such a prominent public space without interception highlights the deteriorating security situation across the country.
He argued that the attack should serve as a wake-up call for government officials, noting that insecurity has increasingly affected people across all social and political divides. “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?” he said.
Atiku lamented the growing wave of kidnappings and violent crimes nationwide, stating that many Nigerian families continue to face trauma as criminal groups operate with increasing boldness. “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,” he said.
The former vice president stressed that kidnappers do not discriminate based on political affiliation or social status. “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 stated.
Atiku said the incident underscored the urgent need for a more effective security strategy, arguing that the government has a fundamental responsibility to protect lives and property. He expressed concern that many Nigerians now live in constant fear of abduction and ransom demands, describing the situation as unacceptable.
The former vice president called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to adopt a comprehensive, intelligence-driven approach aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks, securing vulnerable communities, and restoring public confidence in the country's security architecture.
He also called for the immediate rescue of the victims and the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the abduction. Atiku concluded by extending his prayers and support to the Adelabu family and other Nigerians affected by insecurity across the country.
