Adelabu abduction: Family insider supplied information to kidnappers – Police

The Oyo State Police Command has reported that a personal assistant who worked for a relative of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu supplied information that helped abduct Adelabu’s sister, Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John‑Paul, and her 12‑year‑old twin sons.

Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ayanlade Olayinka made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, while giving updates on the kidnapping investigation.

Mrs. John‑Paul and her twins, Peter and Paul, were taken on June 3, 2026, near Elewura on Ring Road in Ibadan while she was driving the children to school. The victims were later rescued in a police operation that also resulted in the deaths of two suspected kidnappers.

Ayanlade said the operation was directed by the Inspector‑General of Police and coordinated by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police together with operatives from the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team (FID‑IRT).

One of the main suspects, known only 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.

Intelligence gathered during interrogations also led to the arrest of another suspect, Dare, also known as Solution.

Ayanlade revealed that the kidnappers allegedly received help from a personal assistant named Shehu, who was 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 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,” he added.

The police said the suspects initially planned to abduct the mother after studying the family’s movements, but changed their target when they discovered that a driver usually took 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 spokesperson said.

Ayanlade stated that the victims were traced to a hideout in Ibadan on June 6 during a rescue operation that began at about 7:30 p.m. One suspect, identified as Kelechi, who had reportedly travelled from Lagos to join the operation, opened fire on security operatives during the rescue. “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.

Weapons were recovered during the operation, and 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 said. He added that efforts were continuing to apprehend other suspects and uncover all individuals connected to the abduction.