Security operatives in Oyo State have rescued Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons, Peter and Paul, four days after they were abducted by gunmen in Ibadan.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the rescue on Saturday evening. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the victims were rescued alive during a coordinated security operation carried out at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Sources revealed that the rescue operation involved a fierce exchange of gunfire between security personnel and the kidnappers. During the operation, two suspected kidnappers sustained serious injuries, while others escaped with gunshot wounds. Weapons were also reportedly recovered from the scene.
Mrs. John-Paul and her children were abducted on Tuesday along Elewura Street in the Challenge area of Ibadan while she was on her way to drop the boys at a private school.
The incident triggered widespread concern across Oyo State and beyond, prompting an intensive manhunt by security agencies. Investigators believed the kidnappers had not successfully escaped from the Ibadan metropolis, leading to sustained surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts.
The successful rescue has brought relief to the victims’ family members, friends, and residents who had anxiously followed developments surrounding the abduction.
Witnesses had reported that the kidnappers, who operated in a 2008 Toyota Corolla without a registration number plate, intercepted Mrs. John-Paul’s vehicle, forced her and the children out, and whisked them away. The gunmen reportedly fired several shots into the air to scare residents before fleeing with the victims.
Also, the family of Adelabu has appreciated president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor of Oyo state, and Nigerians for their support during the trying period. They prayed for the quick release of other victims in the custody of kidnappers
As of the time of filing this report, the police had yet to provide full details of the operation or disclose whether any arrests had been made. However, security agencies said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the kidnapping gang who remain at large.
