The ongoing Ibadan kidnapping crisis reached a terrifying flashpoint on Wednesday morning after armed gunmen ambushed the 43-year-old younger sister of the country’s former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted during the high-profile kidnapping in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. This bold, broad-daylight raid points directly to a systemic Oyo State security collapse that continues to threaten the state’s stability.
The abduction of the Adebayo Adelabu sister and her young children occurred around 7:30 am on 3 June 2026. REPORTERS AT LARGE gathered that Mrs John-Paul was driving her Kia Sonata through the busy Elewura area of Challenge, within the Ibadan South West Local Government Area, when criminals blocked her path. The well-planned operation took just minutes, creating panic across the commercial district.
To ensure a clean escape, the kidnappers resorted to raw terror. An eyewitness said “sporadic gunshots were fired to scare residents and passers-by away from the scene,” triggering immediate chaos in the commercial hub. “Residents reportedly scampered to safety as the shooting continued,” fleeing into nearby shops and houses as the gunmen sped away.
Confirming the incident in a formal statement, Femi Awogboro, a media aide to Adelabu—who is also a leading 2027 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in the state—laid bare the details of the family’s nightmare:
“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.
“Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, aged 43, was reportedly abducted by armed gunmen at about 7:30 a.m. while on her way to drop her children at school in Ibadan. The abductors also forcefully took away her 12-year-old twin sons, who were with her at the time of the incident.”
This critical development highlights how deep the Ibadan kidnapping crisis runs.
Mrs John-Paul, the youngest of five children, had recently taken voluntary retirement after serving at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and First Bank Pension Custodian. She moved to Ibadan with her children, hoping to join her husband, Mr John Paul, who lives in the United States. Instead, a normal morning routine has turned into a cross-continental tragedy.
The political weight of the family shows that no one is safe from the Oyo State security collapse. The Awogboro statement added:
“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. Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible for this heinous crime.
“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 family urged the public to stay calm and avoid spreading unverified rumours that could harm rescue operations.
Roots of the Oyo State Security Collapse
Local analysts fear this bold ambush in the state capital marks a dangerous shift by armed gunmen Nigeria syndicates. Only 20 days ago, on 15 May 2026, a mass abduction occurred when over 40 teachers and students were taken at Ahoro-Esiele in the Oriire Local Government Area.
Opposition figures are also under fire. In December 2025, Wale Oriade, an APC chieftain in Oyo State, was taken by armed men outside his Ibadan office. At the time, witnesses noted that “the nature of the attack and the precision with which it was carried out have caused deep concern within his community.”
Escalation of the Ibadan Kidnapping Crisis
The evolving pattern indicates that these gangs are growing bolder. They are moving easily from rural operations to precision strikes on VIP targets in urban hubs. Responding to queries on the Crime Reporters Oyo platform, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, gave a brief statement: “I can not independently verify this for now, but please hold on.”
As the police hunt continues, the empty Kia Sonata left on the Elewura roadside remains a chilling sign of a city under threat. No official ransom demand has been made public yet.
