Armed gunmen abducted Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power and 2027 Oyo State governorship aspirant Chief Adebayo Adelabu, alongside her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, in Ibadan on Wednesday morning, the family confirmed.
The attack occurred at about 7:30 a.m. in the Elewura area of Challenge, Ibadan South West Local Government Area, as Mrs. John-Paul, 43, was driving to drop her children at school. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen waylaid her vehicle and fired shots sporadically to scare residents and passers-by.
“Business and other related activities in the area were temporarily put on hold as people scampered for safety,” one witness recounted. The woman was forced out of her Kia Sonata and taken away with her children in a vehicle brought by the abductors.
A video circulating online showed a red Toyota Camry abandoned on a quiet street with its doors left open, suggesting a sudden and forceful attack.
Comrade Femi Awogboro, media aide to Chief Adelabu, confirmed the kidnapping in a statement Wednesday.
“The family of Chief Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Power and leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress 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”.
Mrs. John-Paul is the youngest of five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. She voluntarily retired last year after serving “meritoriously at both the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian”. Following her retirement, she relocated to Ibadan with her children while making preparations to join her husband, Mr. John Paul, who had earlier relocated to the United States.
The family said all relevant security and law enforcement agencies were “duly contacted” immediately after the incident. “Security operatives have swung into action and preliminary investigations have commenced. Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible,” Awogboro stated.
Chief Adelabu and the family said they 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”.
They appealed to the public to “remain calm, avoid speculation, and refrain from circulating unverified information that may jeopardize ongoing security operations”. No ransom demand had been reported as of press time.
When contacted, Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, said: “I cannot independently verify this for now, but please hold on”.
The abduction adds to a wave of kidnappings in Oyo State. Over 40 teachers and students were kidnapped on Friday, May 15, 2026, during a coordinated attack at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area. Two educators died in that attack, including one in captivity.
In December 2025, APC chieftain Wale Oriade was abducted by armed men in Ibadan.
“The back-to-back attacks have renewed fears over school safety and highway security across the state”.
Chief Adebayo Adelabu served as Minister of Power and is a leading 2027 governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State.
The family said it would continue to cooperate fully with security agencies and provide updates as events unfold.
