The family of Olaoluwa Toyin Adetona has publicly criticized Chief Mike Adenuga's Globacom over the kidnapping of their son, an engineer with the telecommunications firm.
Olaoluwa was kidnapped on May 6, 2025, while on an official assignment at a mast site in Umuaka village, Orlu, Imo State.
He had volunteered to drive two expatriates and the technical head of Globacom’s Owerri office to the site due to the absence of a critical staff member.
As the team was leaving the location, gunfire erupted. Reports indicate that the other occupants fled as the vehicle swerved into a ditch, but Olaoluwa was captured by assailants suspected to be members of the outlawed IPOB.
This marked the beginning of his family’s anguish.
Since the abduction, Olaoluwa’s wife, Mrs. Funmi Adetona, has expressed deep frustration over the lack of communication and support from Globacom. The family feels abandoned, describing the silence from the company as a void.
In response to their frustration, the family has taken legal action. On July 29, 2025, their lawyer, Mr. Akindele Orimolade, submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and Globacom CEO Chief Mike Adenuga, demanding an urgent investigation and intervention.
The petition, titled “Petition on the Kidnap and Continued Detention of Mr. Olaoluwa Adetona and Alleged Neglect by His Employer, Globacom Limited,” highlights perceived bureaucratic silence and corporate indifference.
According to the letter, an unfamiliar voice answered Olaoluwa’s phone on the evening of May 6 and rudely dismissed his wife’s inquiries. Subsequent checks with his landlord and colleagues confirmed her worst fears—Olaoluwa had been kidnapped.
More troubling is the revelation that colleagues allegedly made a series of ransom payments without informing the family or security agencies, totaling at least ₦4 million to accounts linked to the abductors, including an Opay account associated with a Globacom staff member. Despite these payments, Olaoluwa's release was not secured.
Even more concerning, there was no official report made to the Nigeria Police Force or the Imo State Anti-Kidnapping Unit at the time of the kidnapping. It wasn't until July 13—over two months later—that Mrs. Adetona received her first formal contact from Globacom, which vaguely referenced DSS involvement.
The family’s lawyer described this conduct as “gross negligence,” noting it fell far short of the standard of care expected from a company of Globacom’s prominence. He has demanded an immediate investigation into the company’s actions, raising concerns about potential internal concealment or complicity.
The petition further requests:
1. A full-scale investigation into the kidnapping and any potential role of Globacom staff in obstructing justice.
2. Deployment of tactical units, such as the IRT and Anti-Kidnapping Squad, to secure Olaoluwa’s safe return.
4. Forensic tracing of Opay accounts linked to the ransom payments.
Sanctions against any individuals found to have hindered rescue efforts.
Mrs. Adetona’s statement reflects the family's despair: “The silence and lack of support from his company, coupled with insufficient action from security agencies, have left me devastated and hopeless.”
As the days stretch into months, the family continues to await answers, hope, and the safe return of a man who was simply performing his job.
The onus is now on the authorities and Olaoluwa’s employers to act decisively before time runs out.
-NationalWavesNg
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