by Willy Okonji ~
The Oyo State Police Command has stepped up efforts to rescue the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons following their abduction 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 kidnapped around 7:30 a.m. while she was driving the children to school along the Ring Road area of the Oyo State capital.
Security operatives have since recovered the victims’ vehicle, while tactical teams have been deployed to strategic locations across the state as investigations continue.
Confirming the development, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the Commissioner of Police immediately ordered a coordinated response upon receiving reports of the incident.
“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,” Ayanlade said.
“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 appealed to residents to assist security agencies with credible information that could aid ongoing efforts to locate the kidnappers and secure the release of the victims.
Earlier, a media aide to Adelabu, Femi Awogboro, confirmed 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 read.
Describing the incident as shocking and distressing, the family expressed confidence in the ability of security agencies to secure the victims’ safe return.
“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 also urged the public to refrain from spreading rumours or unverified reports that could jeopardise ongoing rescue efforts.
The incident has reignited concerns over security in Oyo State, prompting calls from political stakeholders for stronger measures to tackle rising cases of kidnapping and violent crime.
Reacting to the development, the Oyo State chapter of the APC called on Governor Seyi Makinde to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and review the state’s security architecture.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party expressed concern over what it described as a growing wave of abductions across the state.
“No citizen deserves to live in perpetual fear and anxiety, as is the situation with the residents of Oyo at the moment,” the statement said.
“As it stands, nobody is safe anywhere in the state, and it has never been this bad.”
The opposition party cited previous unresolved kidnapping cases, including those involving teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area and staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Oluyole Local Government Area, as evidence of a worsening security challenge.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the abduction, describing it as another indication of the deepening insecurity facing the nation.
In a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the incident demonstrated that no category of Nigerians was immune from criminal attacks.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Atiku further stressed that insecurity had become a national crisis requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.
“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,” he added.
He called on the Federal Government to adopt a more robust intelligence-driven security strategy aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks and restoring public confidence.
Also reacting, APC governorship aspirant Ololade Bakare expressed sympathy with Adelabu and his family, urging security agencies to deploy all available resources to secure the victims’ freedom.
“The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, and all available resources and strategic interventions must be deployed without delay,” Bakare said.
He also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities within their communities.
“Collective vigilance remains a critical component in enhancing community safety,” he added.
