Adelabu abduction: Family insider supplied information to kidnappers – Police

The Oyo State Police Command has said a personal assistant attached to a member of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s family, supplied information that aided the abduction of his sister, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, and her 12 year-old twin sons.

The allegation was made by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme while providing updates on the investigation into the kidnapping.

Mrs John-Paul and her twin sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted on June 3, 2026, along the Elewura area of Ring Road, Ibadan, while she was taking the children to school. The victims were later rescued during a police operation that also led to the death of two suspected kidnappers.

According to Ayanlade, the operation was carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police and coordinated by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police in collaboration with operatives of the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team, FID-IRT.

One of the principal suspects, identified simply as Ololu, had been on the command’s watch list before his arrest.

“Of course, one of the perpetrators by name popularly called Ololu has been on the command’s watch list. The operatives continued to trail him until his eventual arrest,” Ayanlade said.

He disclosed that intelligence gathered during interrogation led to the arrest of another suspect identified as Dare, also known as Solution.

Ayanlade stated that investigations revealed that the kidnappers allegedly received assistance from a personal assistant identified as Shehu, who was said to be familiar with the family’s daily routine.

“The one who was with the family, who happened to be a personal assistant by name Shehu, was one of those who we picked. He was the one that was first approached to give them inside information of how the family lives, their lifestyle, their routine and all,” Ayanlade added.

The police further claimed that the suspects initially planned to abduct the children’s mother after allegedly studying the family’s movements.

The plan later changed when the suspects discovered that a driver usually conveyed the children to school.

“The initial plan was to kidnap the mother. However, they realised that it was the driver who usually takes them to school, and they changed their plan to go for the kids. Unfortunately, that day it was the mother who drove them to school, and they swung into action,” the police spokesperson said.

Ayanlade stated that the victims were eventually traced to a hideout in Ibadan on June 6 during a rescue operation conducted at about 7:30 p.m.

He said one of the suspects, identified as Kelechi, who reportedly travelled from Lagos to participate in the operation, opened fire on security operatives during the rescue mission.

“They opened fire on the operatives, and then the operatives professionally and with tactical precision neutralised him and the second, who was also there to give a covering fire for him,” he said.

The police said weapons were recovered during the operation, while the victims were rescued unharmed.

“I would not want to preempt the investigation. The investigation is still ongoing. The suspects are in custody. We are still on the trail of the rest of them that escaped,” Ayanlade stated.

He added that efforts were continuing to apprehend other suspects and uncover all individuals connected to the abduction.