In a pointed reaction to the recent kidnapping saga in Oyo State, businessman and social commentator Isaac Fayose has sparked fresh debate on class-based security responses in Nigeria.
Gunmen abducted Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, along with her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, on June 3, 2026, in Ibadan while she was on a school run at Elewura-Challenge.
The family endured days of uncertainty amid Nigeria’s persistent kidnapping crisis, which has also seen dozens of schoolchildren and teachers held since mid-May in the same state.
Police operatives from the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team executed a dramatic rescue operation on June 6, freeing the victims unharmed. Two suspected kidnappers were killed in a gunfight, and firearms were recovered.
Fayose seized on the swift timeline, posting a video where he delivered a blunt critique. “I hope you all can see how easy it is to rescue people from kidnappers den,” he stated.
“Adelabu’s sister and her children were rescued within 72 hours, because they’re rich and they’re politicians, it is easy to rescue them but it is difficult to rescue the poor because you add no value to them,” Fayose added.
His remarks underscore a growing public perception of selective urgency in high-profile cases versus the prolonged suffering of less connected victims. Many ordinary citizens and families of abducted schoolchildren remain in anguish, with limited visible progress reported in their rescues.
Fayose, brother of former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose, has been vocal on insecurity lately. He recently distanced himself from his elder brother’s controversial claims linking the Oyo school abductions to state government orchestration.
Governor Seyi Makinde visited Adelabu shortly after the abduction, offering condolences and acknowledging the shared security challenges.
The successful operation has drawn both praise for police efficiency and criticism over perceived disparities. Online reactions echo Fayose’s sentiments, with users questioning why similar resources are not consistently deployed for all victims.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of broader insecurity in Oyo and neighbouring states, where kidnappings have become alarmingly routine. Fayose’s intervention adds to calls for equitable protection regardless of social or political status.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!