Police reveal how Adelabu's sister, twin sons were abducted and rescued in Ibadan

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigeria Police Force has provided fresh details on the abduction and subsequent rescue of Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, younger sister of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons.

According to a statement issued by the Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, the victims were kidnapped on June 3, 2026, while Mrs Adegoke John-Paul was driving her sons, Peter and Paul, to school in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The police disclosed that the abduction was the culmination of a carefully planned operation by a criminal syndicate that had allegedly monitored the family’s movements for several weeks.

Investigators said four armed suspects operating in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla had conducted extensive surveillance on the family since May 2026.

According to the Force, the suspects reportedly tracked the victim’s vehicles, monitored the children’s school, studied their daily routines and lifestyle patterns, and even attempted to recruit an insider within the household to facilitate the operation.

“The gang documented her vehicles, her children’s school, daily routine and lifestyle as part of a calculated surveillance operation that began in May 2026,” the statement said.

Upon receiving reports of the abduction, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed an immediate and coordinated manhunt involving operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) and the Oyo State Police Command.

The breakthrough came with the arrest of a suspect identified as Wale Abolalewa, popularly known as “Oloro,” who was already on the police watchlist.

His arrest subsequently led investigators to another key suspect, Dare Oyedele, also known as “Solution,” who was identified as a member of the kidnapping syndicate.

Police said intelligence obtained from the suspects led operatives to a hideout located in the Lado Community area of Ayegun, Ibadan.

Acting on the intelligence, security operatives launched a raid on the hideout at about 7:30 p.m. on June 6, exactly 84 hours after the abduction.

According to the police, a suspect identified as “Kelechi,” who allegedly travelled from Lagos to participate in the operation, opened fire on security personnel during the raid.

He and another unidentified gang member were killed during the exchange of gunfire.

Mrs Adegoke John-Paul and her twin sons were rescued unharmed and subsequently reunited with their family.

The police also announced the arrest of Semiu Ishola, 39, and Adeyemi Ayobami, 35, who were identified as facilitators of the hideout used by the kidnappers.

Items recovered during the operation included three pump-action guns, fourteen live cartridges, the Toyota Corolla allegedly used in the abduction, a battle axe, a hammer, face masks, criminal charms and substances suspected to be hard drugs.

The Force said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang who escaped during the operation and are believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.

The police appealed to medical practitioners and hospital operators to immediately report anyone presenting with suspicious gunshot injuries, assuring that confidentiality would be maintained.

Reaffirming the Force’s commitment to combating kidnapping and violent crime, the police warned criminal syndicates that security agencies would continue to track and dismantle their operations across the country.

“We will locate your hideouts, apprehend your lookouts and ensure victims return home safely,” the statement said.