Adelabu family kidnap triggers police investigation as security operatives intensify efforts to rescue the former minister’s sister and her sons

The Oyo State Police Command has launched an investigation into the Adelabu Family Kidnap following the abduction of Mrs Busayo John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, in Ibadan.

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Mrs John-Paul, 43, and her children were reportedly kidnapped by armed men at about 7:30am on Wednesday while she was taking the boys to school along Ring Road in the Oyo State capital.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said the command had mobilised tactical teams and other operational resources to secure the victims’ safe release and bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to Osifeso, the Commissioner of Police immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Challenge Division and other tactical units to the scene after receiving reports of the attack.

The police spokesman said the victims’ vehicle had been recovered while intensive investigations were ongoing.

“The command wishes to assure members of the public that all necessary resources have been deployed to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible for this criminal act,” Osifeso said.

The command also appealed to residents to provide credible information that could assist ongoing rescue and investigative efforts.

Earlier, one of Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, formally confirmed the incident on behalf of the family.

Awogboro described the abduction as a distressing development and expressed confidence in the capacity of security agencies to secure the release of Mrs John-Paul and her children.

“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,” he said.

The family urged members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information that could undermine rescue operations.

The incident has also triggered political reactions, with the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to address rising insecurity across the state.

In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the opposition party called for a review of the state’s security framework to improve the protection of lives and property.

The APC said the latest kidnapping occurred amid lingering concerns over unresolved abduction cases involving teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area, as well as two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Oluyole Local Government Area.

“No citizen deserves to live in perpetual fear and anxiety, as is the situation with the residents of Oyo at the moment.

“As it stands, nobody is safe anywhere in the state, and it has never been this bad,” the party stated.

The party also referenced the kidnapping of APC chieftain Wale Oriade in Ibadan in December 2025 as evidence of persistent security challenges.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the Adelabu Family Kidnap as another troubling indication of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the attack demonstrated that no segment of society was insulated from the country’s kidnapping crisis.

“The fact that kidnappers could strike in such a prominent public space without fear of interception speaks volumes about the worsening security situation in the country,” he said.

Atiku argued that kidnappers target citizens indiscriminately, regardless of political affiliation, profession or social status.

“The same insecurity that has turned the lives of ordinary Nigerians into a daily nightmare is now knocking on doors many in government may have assumed were beyond its reach,” he added.

The former vice president called on the Federal Government to adopt a comprehensive intelligence-led strategy aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks, securing vulnerable communities and restoring public confidence.

Also reacting, APC governorship aspirant Ololade Bakare expressed sympathy with Adelabu and his family and urged security agencies to act swiftly.

“The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, and all available resources and strategic interventions must be deployed without delay,” Bakare said.

Bakare also encouraged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities.

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The abduction comes amid growing concerns over kidnapping and violent crime in several parts of the country, with security agencies facing increasing pressure to curb the threat and reassure the public.