K!dnap Of Ex-Minister Adelabu’s Sister: Nigerian Police Say Family Aide Conspired With ∆bductors
Kidnap Of Ex-Minister Adelabu’s Sister: Nigerian Police Say Family Aide Conspired With Abductors
The Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, made the revelation on Monday during an appearance on Channels TV, while providing updates on the high-profile kidnapping case that recently rattled Oyo State.
The Oyo State Police Command has disclosed that a personal assistant attached to a member of the family of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, allegedly collaborated with the kidnappers who abducted the former minister’s sister and her two children in Ibadan.
The Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, made the revelation on Monday during an appearance on Channels TV, while providing updates on the high-profile kidnapping case that recently rattled Oyo State.
According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigations uncovered an alleged insider connection involving a personal aide to one of Adelabu’s family members.
Ayanlade said the suspect is believed to have provided critical information that aided the kidnappers in carrying out the operation.
“The investigation revealed that one of the personal assistants to a family member was involved in the conspiracy that led to the kidnapping,” the police spokesman disclosed during the interview.
He noted that the command’s ongoing investigation had uncovered evidence suggesting the kidnapping was not entirely orchestrated by external criminal elements but involved individuals familiar with the family’s movements and routines.
The victims, Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, who is a sister to the former minister, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted on June 3, 2026, along the Elewura area of Ring Road in Ibadan while she was taking the children to school.
The incident triggered widespread concern across Oyo State and prompted an intensive rescue operation by security agencies.
According to police authorities, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force launched a coordinated manhunt immediately after receiving information about the abduction.
The operation, which involved intelligence gathering, surveillance and tactical deployment of security personnel, eventually led investigators to the kidnappers’ hideout.
Ayanlade disclosed that the rescue mission resulted in a fierce confrontation between security operatives and the suspected kidnappers.
During the operation, two of the suspects were killed while several others were arrested.
“The rescue was successful. Two of the kidnappers were neutralised during the operation, while others were arrested and are currently assisting the police with investigations,” he said.
The police spokesman added that the victims were rescued unharmed and have since reunited with their family.
He commended the efforts of security personnel involved in the operation, describing it as a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime in the state.
The latest development highlights the growing role of insider collaboration in kidnapping operations across Nigeria, where criminal gangs increasingly rely on information supplied by relatives, domestic workers, aides, drivers and other trusted associates of intended victims.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that many recent abduction cases involve individuals with prior knowledge of victims’ movements, residences and financial status.
The Oyo State Police Command said investigations are ongoing to identify all those involved in the conspiracy and ensure they are prosecuted.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains crucial in combating kidnapping and other forms of organised crime.
The rescue of the former minister’s sister and her children comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in parts of the country, where kidnapping for ransom continues to pose a major security challenge despite intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies.
