Armed Men Abduct Ex-Minister Adelabu’s Sister, Twin Sons in Ibadan School Run

ADVERTISEMENT

IBADAN — Gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday abducted the younger sister of the former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, alongside her 12-year-old twin sons in Ibadan, the state capital.

​The victim, identified as Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, aged 43, was intercepted by armed men at about 7:30 a.m. while on her way to drop her children at school. The assailants forcefully took her and her twin sons, Peter and Paul, in the Elewura area of Challenge, within the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.

​Confirming the incident in a statement, a media aide to Adelabu, Comrade Femi Awogboro, described the abduction as a deeply distressing development.

​“The family of Chief Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Power and leading gubernatorial aspirant of the All Rolls Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, wishes to formally confirm the unfortunate kidnapping of his younger sister, Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, alongside her twin sons, Peter and Paul, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3, 2026,” the statement read.

​Mrs. John-Paul, the youngest of five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu, had served meritoriously at both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and First Bank Pension Custodian before her voluntary retirement last year. Following her retirement, she relocated to Ibadan with her children while preparing to eventually join her husband, Mr. John Paul, who had earlier relocated to the United States.

​The family disclosed that all relevant security and law enforcement agencies were immediately contacted following the attack.

​“We are pleased to confirm that security operatives have swung into action and preliminary investigations have commenced in earnest. Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible for this heinous crime,” Awogboro stated.

​While expressing confidence in the capacity of security agencies to secure the safe release of the victims, the Adelabu family appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid speculation, and refrain from circulating unverified information that could jeopardize ongoing rescue operations. They also solicited prayers and support from well-meaning Nigerians while urging anyone with actionable intelligence to come forward.

​When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Oyo State Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that she could not independently verify the development at the immediate moment but requested time to confirm the details.

​The daring morning ambush comes amid heightened public concern and growing tension over regional insecurity. Public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State were shut down on Monday as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) kicked off a nationwide protest following the May 15 mass abduction of over 40 students and teachers from communities in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state.