Fresh fears over insecurity in Oyo State have emerged following the abduction of the younger sister of former Minister of Power and APC governorship aspirant, Adebayo Adelabu, along with her two children in Ibadan.
The victims, identified as Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, were reportedly kidnapped by armed men on Wednesday morning in the Challenge area of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident, Adelabu’s media aide, Femi Awogboro, said the 43-year-old mother was on her way to drop her children at school when the attackers struck at about 7:30 a.m. The gunmen allegedly seized both the woman and her twin sons before fleeing the scene.
According to the family, Mrs. John-Paul is the youngest of five children born to Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. Before voluntarily retiring last year, she worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria and later at First Bank Pension Custodian. Following her retirement, she relocated to Ibadan with her children while preparing to reunite with her husband, who had earlier moved to the United States.
The family disclosed that security agencies were immediately alerted after the abduction and have since commenced investigations. They expressed confidence in the ability of law enforcement authorities to secure the safe release of the victims and bring those responsible to justice.
“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 said.
The family also appealed to members of the public to avoid spreading unverified information that could undermine ongoing rescue efforts. They urged anyone with useful information to contact security agencies through the appropriate channels and requested prayers and support from Nigerians during the difficult period.
The incident adds to growing concerns about security in Oyo State. In May 2026, more than 40 teachers and students were abducted during an attack in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area. The incident sparked outrage and renewed calls for stronger security measures across the state.
Kidnapping cases have also affected political figures in recent months. In December 2025, APC chieftain Wale Oriade was abducted by armed men in Ibadan after gunmen reportedly stormed his office and whisked him away in a vehicle. The latest abduction is likely to intensify concerns about the safety of residents and the effectiveness of efforts to tackle criminal activities in the state.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to release official details on the ongoing operation to rescue the victims.
