The younger sister of former Minister of Power and 2027 governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, alongside her twin sons, has been abducted by gunmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday morning in the Challenge area of Ibadan South West Local Government Area.
Confirming the development in a statement, one of Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, disclosed that the victims were abducted while heading to school.
According to the statement, the victims are Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul.
“The family of Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Power and leading governorship aspirant of APC in Oyo State, wishes to formally confirm the unfortunate kidnapping of his younger sister, Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, alongside her twin sons, Peter and Paul, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3, 2026,” the statement read.
Awogboro stated that Mrs. John-Paul, aged 43, was kidnapped around 7:30 a.m. by armed men while taking her children to school in Ibadan.
He explained that the assailants forcefully whisked away both the mother and her children during the attack.
The statement further revealed that Mrs. John-Paul is the youngest among the five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu.
It added that before voluntarily retiring last year, she worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian.
Following her retirement, she reportedly relocated to Ibadan with her children while preparing to join her husband, Mr. John Paul, who had earlier moved to the United States.
The family disclosed that security and law enforcement agencies were immediately contacted after the incident.
According to the statement, security operatives have commenced preliminary investigations and intensified efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
“Adebayo Adelabu and the entire family 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,” the statement added.
The family appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could undermine ongoing rescue operations.
It also called on Nigerians to support the family with prayers and urged anyone with useful information to report it through the appropriate security channels.
The latest incident has again raised concerns over the growing spate of kidnappings and insecurity in Oyo State.
In May 2026, more than 40 teachers and students were reportedly abducted during an attack at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Similarly, a chieftain of the APC in Oyo State, Wale Oriade, was kidnapped in Ibadan in December 2025.
Oriade was reportedly abducted around 7:06 p.m. at his office located inside PJ Square Shopping Complex beside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited station at Elewure along Iyana Ajanla, Akala Expressway, New Garage, Ibadan.
Eyewitnesses had claimed that the attackers arrived in a blue Micra vehicle before forcefully taking them away.
Reacting to the incident, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said he could not independently verify the report immediately.
