News
Presidency Defends Response to Adelabu Relatives’ Rescue and Ogbomoso Abduction
The Presidency has dismissed comparisons between the recent rescue of relatives of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the ongoing abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso, saying the two incidents involve different security dynamics and require different operational approaches.
Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, made the clarification on Sunday amid criticism from some Nigerians who questioned the speed with which Adelabu’s relatives were rescued compared to the continued captivity of the Ogbomoso victims.
In a post on his Facebook page, Ajayi argued that the two cases were fundamentally different and should not be viewed through the same lens.
“Those who are comparing Adelabu’s sister and her twins’ situation to the Ogbomoso kids and their teachers are totally wrong,” he wrote.
According to Ajayi, the kidnapping of Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons was carried out by an urban criminal gang motivated by financial gain, while the Ogbomoso abduction involved armed terrorists operating from remote forest locations.
“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,” he stated.
The presidential aide also rejected allegations that security agencies were prioritising certain victims because of their social status or political connections.
“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 said.
Ajayi urged Nigerians to celebrate the successful rescue of Adelabu’s relatives while continuing to support efforts aimed at securing the release of other victims still being held by abductors.
“We should be happy that the woman and his twins are safely home while we pray for quicker rescue of those still in the bush with their abductors,” he added.
The comments followed public debate on social media after the Nigeria Police Force announced the rescue of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, a relative of Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, who were abducted on June 3.
Police authorities said the victims were rescued unharmed during a coordinated operation involving intelligence and tactical units. Several suspects were also arrested in connection with the crime.
See Video of the operation
The successful operation generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians questioning why security agencies appeared able to secure the swift release of Adelabu’s relatives while schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso remain in captivity.
The Ogbomoso victims were reportedly taken away after armed men attacked a school. Security agencies have since launched search-and-rescue operations, but the victims have yet to be freed.
Head coach of Delta Queens Hockey Club, Ade Jacobs, has expressed confidence that his team will reach the final of the ongoing 2026 Nigeria Hockey Super League in Abuja
Mr Jacobs stated this during an interview after their second match on Sunday in Abuja.
He said his team remains focused on reaching the final stage of the league despite playing out a draw in their second match. .
Mr Jacobs said that though his players were below their usual standard, he was confident they would improve in subsequent games.
“It has been fine so far. We won our first match 5-0, and this second match ended in a 1-1 draw. Well, it’s one of those things that happen sometimes in matches because most of my girls looked a little bit heavy. I don’t know why.
“We intend to improve on that. In our next match, against I-G Babes on Tuesday by 11 a.m . They will come out better, and I can assure you of that,” he said.
The Delta Queens coach reiterated the team’s ambition, recalling their third-place finish in the 2025 Nigeria Hockey Super League.
“We are determined to go a step further this season.Last season, we finished in third place. This season, our target is to play in the final match . We just have to be in the final stage,” he said.
Mr Jacobs also commended the organisers for the smooth conduct of the competition
“So far, so good. They are doing well,” he added.
Delta Queens opened their campaign in impressive fashion with a convincing 5-0 victory over Yobe Desert Queens in their opening match before settling for a 1-1, against South West Hockey Club of Lagos in their second fixture.
A total of seven women’s teams comprises Kada Queens, Plateau Queens, Delta Queens, Yobe Desert Queens, IGP Babes, South West, and Edo Queens.
Kada Queens are the reigning women’s champions, while Kada Stars are the defending champions in the men’s category.
The 2026 Nigeria Hockey Super League which commenced on June 26 will end on July 5 at the National Hockey Pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
(NAN)
The Certified True Copy of the Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has emerged.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Isa H. Dashen at the Lokoja Judicial Division, effectively sets aside a December 10, 2025 judgment that had previously compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the party.
The court said the prior judgment was nullified because it affected the legal rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC but was never joined as a party to the original lawsuit.
Recall that the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Saturday said that the commission was waiting to obtain the official paperwork before finalizing its response.
“We have applied for the Certified True Copy of the judgment. Until we receive it, we cannot be in a position to comment on it. However, the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment was that INEC rejected NDC’s letter of intent to be registered as a political party,” Haruna explained.
The NDC had said that it has already been denied the portal access codes needed to upload its candidate list for the 2027 general elections.
In response to the portal denial, the National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director, confirmed that their efforts to secure the necessary credentials were unsuccessful.
“We approached INEC to collect the access code to upload the names of our candidates to the INEC portal. They told us that they will get back to us,” Director said.
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