By Deborah Nnamdi
Suspected gunmen have abducted the younger sister of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, along with her twin sons in Ibadan, the state capital.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Wednesday morning in the Challenge area of the city while on their way to school.
Confirming the incident in a statement, Adelabu’s media aide, Femi Awogboro, identified the victims as Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul.
According to the statement, the 43-year-old woman was abducted at about 7:30 a.m. by armed men while driving her children to school. The gunmen reportedly seized both the mother and her sons during the attack.
Awogboro described Mrs. John-Paul as the youngest of the five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. He noted that she had previously worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian before voluntarily retiring last year.
The statement added that following her retirement, she relocated to Ibadan with her children while making plans to join her husband, Mr. John Paul, who had earlier moved to the United States.
The family said security agencies were immediately notified after the incident and had commenced investigations into the abduction.
“Immediately the incident was reported, all relevant security and law enforcement agencies were duly contacted. 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,” the statement said.
The family expressed confidence in the ability of security agencies to secure the safe release of the victims, describing the incident as distressing and traumatic.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said he could not immediately verify the incident.
“I cannot independently verify this for now, but please hold on,” he said.
Suspected gunmen have abducted the wife and twin children of the younger brother of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Monday morning at the Elewura area of Challenge in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Confirming the incident, one of Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, said the victims were seized by unidentified gunmen while travelling within the city.
According to Awogboro, the abducted persons are Adelabu’s sister-in-law, Laide, and her twin children, Peter and Paul.
“Adelabu’s junior brother’s wife, Laide, together with her twins, Peter and Paul, was kidnapped this morning by unknown gunmen at Elewura, Challenge, Ibadan,” he said.
Awogboro explained that the family was leaving their residence and heading towards the expressway when the attackers struck.
“The family were going out this morning from Elewura to link the express when they were attacked and whisked away by the unknown kidnappers,” he added.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Oyo State Police Command were inconclusive as of the time of filing this report.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said he could not immediately verify the incident.
“I cannot independently verify this for now, but please hold on,” Ayanlade stated.
The abduction has heightened concerns over security in the state, as authorities are expected to launch efforts to secure the safe release of the victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
