Adelabu
By John Dike, Osogbo
Tension gripped residents of Ibadan on Wednesday following the abduction of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, younger sister of former Minister of Power and leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, alongside her 12-year-old twin sons.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped by armed gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday while Mrs. John-Paul was on her way to drop her children at school in Ibadan.
The incident, which has heightened concerns over the growing wave of kidnappings and insecurity across parts of the South-West region, occurred at about 7:30 a.m., according to a statement issued by the Adelabu family.
In a statement signed by Adelabu’s Media Aide, Comrade Femi Awogboro, the family formally confirmed the abduction and appealed to the public to remain calm while security agencies intensify efforts to rescue the victims.
The statement identified the victims as Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, 43, and her twin sons, Peter and Paul, who were travelling with her when the gunmen struck.
According to the family, the attackers forcefully seized the mother and her children before whisking them away to an unknown destination.
Mrs. John-Paul is described as the youngest of the five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. Until her voluntary retirement last year, she reportedly served at both the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian.
The family disclosed that following her retirement, she relocated to Ibadan with her children while making arrangements to eventually reunite with her husband, Mr. John Paul, who had earlier moved to the United States.
The development has thrown the family into distress, with relatives expressing concern over the safety and well-being of the victims.
However, the family said security agencies were immediately notified after the incident and have since commenced investigations into the abduction.
“Immediately the incident was reported, all relevant security and law enforcement agencies were duly contacted. We are pleased to confirm that security operatives have swung into action and preliminary investigations have commenced in earnest,” the statement read.
It added that efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The family said Adelabu and other relatives remain deeply saddened by the incident but expressed confidence in the ability of security agencies to secure the release of the abducted woman and her children.
“Chief 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 added.
The family also appealed to members of the public to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information capable of undermining ongoing rescue operations.
It urged Nigerians to support the family with prayers and provide any useful information that could assist investigators in tracking down the kidnappers.
“We respectfully appeal to members of the public to remain calm, avoid speculation, and refrain from circulating unverified information that may jeopardize ongoing security operations. We also solicit prayers and support from well-meaning Nigerians during this difficult period,” the statement said.
The family further encouraged anyone with credible information regarding the whereabouts of the victims or the activities of the abductors to promptly contact security authorities through the appropriate channels.
The latest incident comes amid concerns over rising cases of kidnapping and violent crimes in parts of the country, particularly within the South-West, where residents and stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger security measures and improved intelligence gathering to curb criminal activities.
As investigations continue, the family assured that it would cooperate fully with security agencies and provide updates to the public as developments unfold.
