The family of Olaoluwa Toyin Adetona, a Globacom engineer kidnapped nearly three months ago while on duty, has accused the telecommunications giant of gross neglect and indifference, alleging that the company has failed to provide adequate support or transparency since the incident.
Olaoluwa was abducted on May 6, 2025, in Umuaka village, Orlu, Imo State, while accompanying two expatriates and the technical head of the Owerri office to a mast site. Due to a key staff member’s absence, he had volunteered to drive the team.
According to eyewitness accounts, the group came under attack while departing the site. The vehicle veered off the road amid gunfire, leading to Olaoluwa’s capture by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The other passengers reportedly fled the scene.
Since then, his family has lived in a state of fear and uncertainty. His wife, Mrs. Funmi Adetona, has decried what she described as a painful silence and lack of direct communication from Globacom, founded by billionaire businessman Chief Mike Adenuga.
“The silence and lack of support from his company, coupled with insufficient action from security agencies, have left me devastated and hopeless,” Mrs. Adetona said.
With no significant breakthrough in his recovery, the family has turned to legal means. On July 29, 2025, their legal representative, Mr. Akindele Orimolade, submitted a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and Chief Adenuga, demanding urgent intervention.
The petition, titled “Petition on the Kidnap and Continued Detention of Mr. Olaoluwa Adetona and Alleged Neglect by His Employer, Globacom Limited,” accuses the company of corporate silence and inaction, further compounding the family’s ordeal.
In a startling revelation, the petition alleges that some of Olaoluwa’s colleagues made ransom payments—amounting to over ₦4 million—without notifying either the family or law enforcement agencies. These transactions reportedly involved accounts linked to the kidnappers, including an Opay account associated with a Globacom employee. Despite the payments, Olaoluwa remains in captivity.
To make matters worse, the family said no police report was filed at the time of the abduction. It wasn’t until July 13—over two months later—that Globacom first reached out to Mrs. Adetona, merely mentioning DSS involvement without offering clarity or assurance.
Mr. Orimolade condemned Globacom’s handling of the case as “gross negligence,” saying it fell short of the standard of care expected from a corporation of such stature.
He is now demanding:
1. A thorough investigation into the kidnapping and any possible obstruction of justice by company employees.
2. Immediate deployment of tactical units such as the IRT and Anti-Kidnapping Squad to rescue Olaoluwa.
3. Forensic tracing of all ransom-related accounts, especially those tied to Globacom staff.
4. Sanctions against any individuals who may have impeded rescue efforts or withheld information.
The family is pleading for public and institutional support to compel action before it’s too late. As weeks turn into months, their hope lies in a swift and coordinated response to bring Olaoluwa home safely.
Efforts to reach Globacom for comment have so far yielded no response.