Public commentator Isaac Fayose has sparked a heated debate on social media after questioning the speed with which security agencies rescued relatives of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, compared to the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
In a viral video, Fayose alleged that influential Nigerians receive faster security intervention than ordinary citizens, citing the rescue of Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons within days of their abduction.
“How are you? I hope you all can see how easy it is to rescue people from kidnappers’ den. Within 72 hours, Adelabu Penkelemes, former Minister of Power, family has been released. Because they are rich, they are politicians, it is easy to rescue politicians,” he said.
The remarks quickly gained traction online, triggering reactions from Nigerians divided over the country’s handling of kidnapping cases and broader concerns about insecurity.
However, the Presidency has pushed back against the comparison, describing it as misleading and unfair.
Responding to the controversy, Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, argued that the two incidents involved entirely different categories of criminal activity and therefore required different security responses.
According to Ajayi, comparing the rescue of Adelabu’s relatives to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Ogbomoso ignores the distinct operational realities facing security agencies.
“Those who are comparing the Adelabu’s sister and her twins’ situation to the Ogbomoso kids and their teachers are totally wrong,” he said.
He explained that the Adelabu case involved an urban kidnapping gang allegedly holding victims inside a residential building within a community, while the Ogbomoso victims were believed to be in the custody of armed terrorists operating deep inside remote bush terrain.
“It is wrong to compare the urban gang of kidnappers who engage in copycat crime to make money and hide victims inside a flat within the community to a band of terrorists operating deep inside the bush. The two sets of criminals have different motivations and agendas,” Ajayi stated.
The presidential aide also rejected allegations that government and security agencies were selective in their rescue efforts, insisting that authorities remained committed to securing the release of all abducted persons.
“The Ogbomoso children and their teachers will be rescued, and government/security agencies are not selective as falsely claimed. The approach to the two incidents can’t be the same,” he added.
Ajayi further urged Nigerians to celebrate the safe return of Adelabu’s relatives while continuing to pray and support efforts aimed at rescuing those still in captivity.
His intervention has added another dimension to the online controversy, with supporters and critics continuing to debate whether social status influences the speed of rescue operations in Nigeria.
As the discussion rages on, the fate of the abducted Ogbomoso pupils and teachers remains a major national concern, with many Nigerians anxiously awaiting positive news from security agencies.