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Gunmen kidnapped the younger sister of former Minister of Power Bayo Adelabu and her 12-year-old twin sons while they travelled to school in Ibadan on Wednesday morning, the family has confirmed.
Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, aged 43, was dropping her children at school at about 7:30 am when armed assailants seized her and her twin boys, Peter and Paul, according to a statement by Femi Awogboro, one of Adelabu’s media aides.
“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.
“The abductors also forcefully took away her 12-year-old twin sons, who were with her at the time of the incident.”
Mrs Adegoke John-Paul is the youngest of the five children of Mrs Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. Until her voluntary retirement last year, she had served at both the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian.
Unconfirmed reports claim that the sister and children of APC governorship aspirant and former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu (Penkelemesi), have been k%dnapped around the Elewura area of Ibadan, Oyo State. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident. pic.twitter.com/01pnGvu6b3
— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) June 3, 2026
Following her retirement, she relocated to Ibadan with her children while preparing to eventually join her husband, Mr John Paul, who had earlier relocated to the United States.
The family has contacted all relevant security and law enforcement agencies, the statement said.
“We are pleased to confirm that security operatives have swung into action and preliminary investigations have commenced in earnest,” Awogboro said.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible for this heinous crime.”
Adelabu and the entire family are deeply distressed by the incident but remain confident in security agencies, the statement added.
“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 read.
The abduction adds to a growing wave of kidnappings in Oyo State. More than 40 teachers and students remain in captivity following a coordinated attack on May 15 at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area. An APC chieftain in the state, Wale Oriade, was also abducted in Ibadan in December 2025.
