The Oyo State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the abduction of Mrs. Busayo John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped by armed men around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday while Mrs. John-Paul was taking her children to school along the Ring Road area of Ibadan.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command had deployed tactical teams and other security resources to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police immediately directed officers from the Challenge Division and other tactical units to the scene of the incident, where the victims’ vehicle was recovered and investigations commenced.
“The command wishes to assure residents that all necessary resources have been mobilised to secure the release of the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Ayanlade stated.
The police also appealed to members of the public to provide useful information that could assist ongoing investigations.
Earlier, one of Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, confirmed the incident in a statement, describing it as a painful and distressing experience for the family.
He said Mrs. John-Paul and her twin sons were abducted while carrying out their normal daily routine and expressed confidence in the ability of security agencies to secure their release.
“Adebayo Adelabu and the entire family are deeply distressed by this tragic development but remain hopeful that security agencies will rescue Mrs. John-Paul and her children safely,” the statement read.
The family urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could undermine rescue efforts.
Reacting to the development, the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress called on Governor Seyi Makinde to work closely with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to address the growing insecurity in the state.
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC expressed concern over what it described as an alarming rise in kidnapping cases across Oyo State.
The party noted that the latest incident comes amid ongoing concerns over unresolved abduction cases involving teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area, as well as staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria.
“No citizen deserves to live in fear. As things stand, many residents feel unsafe, and urgent steps must be taken to strengthen security across the state,” the APC said.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also condemned the abduction, describing it as another indication of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
In a statement released through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the incident showed that insecurity now affects people regardless of their social status or political affiliation.
Read Also:
Gunmen Kidnap Adelabu’s Sister and Twin Sons in Ibadan
“The fact that kidnappers could strike in a busy public area without fear of being intercepted speaks volumes about the state of security in the country,” he said.
According to him, kidnappers do not discriminate between politicians, public officials, traders, students, or ordinary citizens.
“The same insecurity that has made life difficult for ordinary Nigerians is now affecting families that many may have assumed were beyond its reach,” Atiku added.
He called on the Federal Government to adopt a more effective, intelligence-driven strategy to combat kidnapping and dismantle criminal networks operating across the country.
Also reacting, APC governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Ololade Bakare, sympathised with Adelabu and his family and urged security agencies to act swiftly.
“The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. Every available resource must be deployed to ensure the victims are rescued safely,” he said.
Bakare also encouraged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in tackling insecurity.
