IBADAN, OYO STATE – Armed gunmen have abducted Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, along with her 12-year-old twin sons, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, while Mrs. John-Paul, 43, was driving her children to school in the Challenge/Elewura area of the city.
According to eyewitnesses and family sources, the abductors, who were travelling in an ash-coloured vehicle without visible registration plates, intercepted her car and forcefully took her and the boys, identified as Peter and Paul.
In an official statement issued by Comrade Femi Awogboro, media aide to Chief Adelabu, the family confirmed the abduction.
“The family of Chief Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Power and leading governorship aspirant of the 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.
The statement described Mrs. John-Paul as the youngest of five children of the late Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. She previously had a distinguished career with the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian before voluntarily retiring last year. She recently relocated to Ibadan from abroad, while her husband, Mr. John-Paul, remains in the United States.
Security agencies were immediately alerted and have launched efforts to secure the safe release of the victims. The family expressed confidence in the authorities and appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that could jeopardise ongoing investigations.
They also urged anyone with credible information regarding the incident to report it through the appropriate security channels.
Rising Insecurity Concerns in Oyo State
The high-profile abduction has intensified concerns over the security situation in Oyo State. The incident follows recent reports of gunmen attacking an immigration office in Ogbomoso, where officers were reportedly disarmed. It also comes amid the unresolved kidnapping of more than 40 schoolchildren and teachers in the area over two weeks ago.
The fact that the abduction occurred in broad daylight within a major urban centre such as Ibadan, rather than in a remote community, has heightened public anxiety. Many residents fear that criminal groups are becoming increasingly bold and sophisticated in their operations.
Meanwhile, protests have intensified in several parts of the country, with demonstrators demanding stronger security measures and greater accountability from both federal and state authorities. Some protesters have called for the resignation of key officials, citing the government’s inability to stem the growing wave of kidnappings affecting both ordinary citizens and prominent families.
Chief Adelabu and his family have appealed for calm as security agencies continue their investigations.
