Gunmen have abducted the younger sister of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, alongside her 12-year-old twin sons in Ibadan, the state capital.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by one of Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, who disclosed that the victims were kidnapped while on their way to school in the Challenge area of Ibadan South West Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the victim, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, 43, was reportedly intercepted by armed men at about 7:30 a.m. while taking her twin sons, Peter and Paul, to school.
Awogboro said, “Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, aged 43, was reportedly abducted by armed gunmen at about 7:30 a.m. while on her way to drop her children at school in Ibadan. The abductors also forcefully took away her 12-year-old twin sons, who were with her at the time of the incident.”
He explained that Mrs John-Paul, the youngest of five children of the Adelabu family, recently retired after serving at the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian and had relocated to Ibadan pending plans to reunite with her husband in the United States.
The aide said security agencies had been alerted and had already commenced investigations into the incident.
“Immediately the incident was reported, all relevant security and law enforcement agencies were duly contacted. We are pleased to confirm that security operatives have swung into action and preliminary investigations have commenced in earnest,” he stated.
Awogboro added that Adelabu and other family members were devastated by the development but remained hopeful that the victims would be rescued safely.
“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 statement added.
The family appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could undermine ongoing rescue efforts.
The latest abduction comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in Oyo State. In May, more than 40 teachers and students were kidnapped during an attack on Ahoro-Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area, while an APC chieftain, Wale Oriade, was abducted in Ibadan in December 2025.
