The Oyo State Police Command has begun a manhunt for the gunmen who abducted the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Mrs Busayo John-Paul, along with her twin sons, Peter and Paul.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday while Mrs John-Paul was taking her 12-year-old children to school along Ring Road in Ibadan.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command had mobilised tactical units and other security resources to facilitate the victims’ safe rescue and bring those responsible to justice.
He said, “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 also appealed to residents to share any information that could support ongoing investigations.
Earlier, Adelabu’s media aide, Femi Awogboro, confirmed the abduction 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 read.
Awogboro described the incident as heartbreaking but expressed confidence that security agencies would secure the release of 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,” he added.
The family urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified reports that could undermine rescue operations.
Reacting to the incident, the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) called on Governor Seyi Makinde to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to address the growing insecurity in the state.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party called for an urgent review of the state’s security framework to better protect residents and their property.
The APC noted that the latest abduction comes amid concerns over unresolved kidnapping cases involving teachers and students abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, as well as two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria 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 party said.
The opposition party also referenced the kidnapping of one of its chieftains, Wale Oriade, in Ibadan in December 2025.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also reacted to the incident, describing it as another indication of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the development showed that no Nigerian is immune to the country’s growing kidnapping crisis.
“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 said.
He added, “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 adopt a more robust intelligence-led strategy to tackle insecurity across the country.
“We need a comprehensive, intelligence-driven strategy capable of dismantling kidnapping syndicates, securing vulnerable communities and restoring public confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives and property,” he said.
Also reacting, APC governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Ololade Bakare, sympathised with Adelabu and his family and urged authorities to act swiftly.
“The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, and all available resources and strategic interventions must be deployed without delay,” Bakare said.
He further encouraged residents to stay alert and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
“Collective vigilance remains a critical component in enhancing community safety,” he added.
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