The Oyo State Police Command has intensified efforts to rescue the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons after they were kidnapped by gunmen in Ibadan on Wednesday morning.
The victims, Mrs Busayo John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin boys, Peter and Paul, were reportedly seized by armed men around 7:30 a.m. while she was driving the children to school along the busy Ring Road area of the Oyo State capital.
Security operatives have since recovered the vehicle used by the victims before the abduction, while tactical units have been deployed across strategic locations as investigations continue.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the Commissioner of Police immediately ordered a coordinated response after receiving reports of the incident.
According to him, officers attached to the Challenge Division, alongside other tactical teams, were mobilised to the scene where the abandoned vehicle was recovered.
“Following the report of the incident, the Commissioner of Police immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer, Challenge Division, alongside other tactical teams, to proceed to the scene where the victim’s vehicle was recovered and commence intensive investigations.
“The command wishes to assure members of the public that all necessary resources have been deployed to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible for this criminal act.”
The police urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist in tracking down the kidnappers and securing the victims’ release.
Earlier, a media aide to Adelabu, Femi Awogboro, disclosed the incident in a statement issued on behalf of the family.
“The family of Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Power and leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, wishes to formally confirm the unfortunate kidnapping of his younger sister, Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, alongside her twin sons, Peter and Paul.”
The statement described the incident as painful and shocking but expressed optimism that security agencies would successfully rescue the victims.
“Adebayo Adelabu and the entire family are deeply distressed by this tragic development but remain hopeful and confident in the capacity of the security agencies to secure the safe release of Mrs John-Paul and her children.”
The family also appealed to members of the public to avoid spreading rumours or unverified reports capable of disrupting ongoing rescue operations.
The incident has triggered fresh concerns over the security situation in Oyo State, with political stakeholders calling for urgent measures to address the rising cases of kidnapping and violent crimes.
Reacting to the development, the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged Governor Seyi Makinde to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and review the state’s security framework.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the opposition party said residents were becoming increasingly worried about the growing wave of abductions across different parts of the state.
The party pointed to unresolved cases involving teachers and students abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, as well as staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria who were kidnapped in Oluyole Local Government Area.
“No citizen deserves to live in perpetual fear and anxiety, as is the situation with the residents of Oyo at the moment.
“As it stands, nobody is safe anywhere in the state, and it has never been this bad.”
The APC also recalled the kidnapping of one of its chieftains, Wale Oriade, in Ibadan late last year, arguing that recent incidents suggest a worsening security challenge.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also weighed in on the matter, describing the abduction as another indication of the deepening insecurity confronting Nigerians.
In a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the attack showed that no category of citizens was insulated from the threat posed by criminal gangs.
“The fact that kidnappers could strike in such a prominent public space without fear of interception speaks volumes about the worsening security situation in the country.
“Kidnappers do not ask for party membership cards before striking. They do not distinguish between APC members and opposition supporters. They do not care whether their victims are ministers, former ministers, traders, teachers, students or farmers.”
He further stated that insecurity had become a national challenge requiring urgent and coordinated action.
“The same insecurity that has turned the lives of ordinary Nigerians into a daily nightmare is now knocking on doors many in government may have assumed were beyond its reach.”
Atiku called on the Federal Government to implement a more robust intelligence-driven security strategy aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks and restoring public confidence.
Also reacting, APC governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Ololade Bakare, expressed sympathy with Adelabu and his family, while urging security agencies to spare no effort in ensuring the victims regain their freedom.
“The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, and all available resources and strategic interventions must be deployed without delay,” Bakare said.
He further appealed to residents to remain alert and promptly report suspicious activities within their communities.
“Collective vigilance remains a critical component in enhancing community safety,” he added.