Gunmen have abducted the younger sister of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Adebayo Adelabu, along with her twin sons in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The victims were identified as Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, 43, and her twin sons, Peter and Paul. They were reportedly kidnapped during an attack in the Elewura area of Challenge, within Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, on Sunday morning.
According to family sources, the incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. while the victims were travelling from Elewura to connect to the expressway. Eyewitness accounts indicated that armed men intercepted their vehicle, smashed the driver’s side window, and forcefully took the occupants away.
A video of the aftermath of the attack, which circulated on social media, showed a damaged red sedan believed to have been used by the victims before the abduction.
Confirming the incident, Adelabu’s media aide, Femi Awogboro, said the family had formally reported the kidnapping and appealed for the safe return of the victims.
“The family of Adebayo Adelabu wishes to confirm the unfortunate kidnapping of his younger sister, Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, alongside her twin sons,” Awogboro said in a statement.
He explained that the victims were attacked while attempting to join the expressway from the Elewura area before being whisked away by the abductors.
The family’s clarification followed initial reports that had identified the adult victim as the wife of Adelabu’s younger brother. However, relatives later confirmed that she is the former minister’s younger sister and the youngest sibling in the Adelabu family.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command was aware of reports of the abduction but was still gathering details.
He urged members of the public to await an official statement from the police as investigations continue.
The kidnapping has heightened concerns over insecurity in Oyo State, where several abduction cases have been recorded in recent months. Security agencies have reportedly launched efforts to locate the victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of Mrs. John-Paul and her two sons remained unknown, while no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction.
