Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s media adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to invite Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to formally disclose the identities of politicians he allegedly linked to kidnappings in Oyo State.
Ibe made the call in a post on X on Thursday, saying security agencies should urgently act on any credible intelligence that could help secure the release of abducted students and teachers and dismantle criminal networks.
His remarks followed comments by Igboho during a meeting with members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, where the activist alleged that certain politicians were sponsoring kidnappers operating in parts of the South-West.
Igboho claimed he had knowledge of individuals behind kidnapping operations and warned that he could publicly name them if the attacks continued.
“I know the politicians behind them, and if they do not stop perpetrating their evil acts, I will mention them all,” he said.
He also described the kidnappers as ordinary individuals who could be dislodged if decisive action was taken against them.
“If I am permitted to burst into the hideouts, they will flee. They are neither gnomes nor mannequins; they are humans,” he said.
The comments were made in the wake of renewed concerns over the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that has intensified fears about worsening insecurity in parts of the South-West.
Reacting, Ibe said security agencies should immediately engage Igboho if he truly possessed actionable intelligence.
“Since Sunday Igboho claims to know those behind the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, I think the State Security Service and other security agencies need to invite him to release those names to them,” he said.
He stressed that all available information should be used to ensure the safe rescue of victims.
“Every option should be on the table to fast-track the safe release of the school children and teachers,” Ibe added.
Ibe also expanded his criticism to the broader handling of insecurity in the country, questioning the federal government’s response to other reported abductions, including the case of over 50 schoolchildren in Mussa, Borno State.
He argued that similar levels of urgency should be applied across all affected regions, regardless of political considerations.
The exchange has further highlighted ongoing concerns about school abductions and the spread of kidnapping networks across multiple regions of Nigeria.
Over the years, Nigeria has experienced repeated mass kidnappings, particularly targeting schoolchildren, prompting renewed debate on intelligence gathering, security deployment, and the role of community-based protection systems.
As of press time, security agencies had not issued an official response to the allegations or the call for Igboho’s invitation.
