Armed gunmen have abducted Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, younger sister of former Minister of Power and APC gubernatorial aspirant Chief Adebayo Adelabu, along with her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, in Ibadan on Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on June 3, 2026, as Mrs. John-Paul, 43, was on her way to drop the children at school. The family confirmed the abduction in a statement signed by Comrade Femi Awogboro, Media Aide to Chief Adelabu.
Mrs. John-Paul is the youngest of five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. She retired voluntarily last year from service at the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian before relocating to Ibadan with her children. She was preparing to join her husband, Mr. John Paul, who had earlier moved to the United States.
The Adelabu family said all relevant security and law enforcement agencies were contacted immediately after the incident. “We are pleased to confirm that security operatives have swung into action and preliminary investigations have commenced in earnest,” the statement read.
Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and to apprehend those responsible for what the family described as a “heinous crime”.
Chief Adelabu and the family said they are “deeply distressed” by the development but remain hopeful and confident in the capacity of security agencies to secure the safe release of Mrs. John-Paul and her sons.
They appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid speculation or the spread of unverified information that could jeopardise ongoing operations. “We also solicit prayers and support from well-meaning Nigerians during this difficult period,” the family added.
Anyone with useful information has been urged to report it promptly to security agencies through the appropriate channels. The family said it will continue to cooperate fully with authorities and provide updates as events unfold.
