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Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has alleged that top government officials are aware of the whereabouts of kidnappers linked to the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, urging authorities to take decisive action to rescue victims and dismantle criminal hideouts.
Adebayo made the remarks during an interview on Vanguard News TV, on Thursday, 18 June 2026, while discussing the kidnapping of schoolchildren and reports that the abductors were operating within the Old Oyo National Park area. The incident generated widespread concern across the country and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect schools and rural communities.
During the interview, Adebayo argued that the location of the kidnappers was already known to key government officials. “The governor knows where they are. Tinubu knows where they are. Nuhu Ribadu knows where they are. IG of Police knows where they are,” he said.
The SDP presidential hopeful contended that the challenge facing Nigeria’s fight against kidnapping is not a lack of intelligence but the failure to act swiftly on available information. According to him, security agencies should be empowered to move against criminal groups once credible intelligence identifies their locations.
Adebayo maintained that effective coordination among federal and state authorities is essential to addressing insecurity and restoring public confidence. He said Nigerians expect government institutions to prioritise the protection of lives and ensure that criminal networks are dismantled before they can carry out further attacks.
