The Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of four suspects in connection with the abduction of Mrs. Busayo John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abimbola Olugbenga, who disclosed this, led a team of police officers and journalists to the kidnappers’ hideout located at Araromi Quarters, Ayegun North, in Oluyole Local Government Area of the state, urging residents to remain vigilant and report any fleeing members of the criminal syndicate.

The visit to the hideout followed a successful intelligence-led rescue operation that secured the release of Mrs. Adelabu-John Paul and her twin sons, who were abducted in the early hours of June 3, 2026, in Ibadan. During the inspection of the hideout and a subsequent press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Eleyele, the Commissioner of Police confirmed that investigations and security operations linked to the incident are still ongoing, assuring residents that every member of the criminal syndicate would be tracked down and brought to justice.

The rescue operation was a coordinated effort involving operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), the Oyo State Police Command, and other tactical units of the Nigeria Police Force. The victims were abducted at approximately 7:30 a.m. on June 3 while the mother was taking her children to school along Elewura Street, off Ring Road, Ibadan. Following the report, the Command launched an intelligence-driven manhunt under the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, deploying specialised tactical and intelligence teams.

This operation led to the arrest of Wale Abolalewa, known as “Oloro,” who was already on the Command’s watchlist. His arrest provided a significant breakthrough, exposing the wider kidnapping network. Further investigations resulted in the arrest of Dare Oyedele, alias “Solution,” identified as another key member of the gang. Police investigations revealed that the kidnappers had monitored the family’s activities for weeks prior to the abduction, conducting surveillance on their daily movements, vehicles, lifestyle, and the schools attended by the children, and even attempting to recruit an insider connected to the household.

Intelligence gathered from the arrested suspects and digital evidence eventually guided operatives to the gang’s hideout. On June 6, at about 7:30 p.m., operatives stormed the location in a carefully coordinated rescue mission. Upon sighting the police team, one of the gang members, identified as Kelechi, who was serving as a lookout, opened fire. Operatives responded professionally, successfully neutralizing Kelechi and another unidentified member of the syndicate.

Following the operation, the victims were rescued unhurt and safely reunited with their family. The Commissioner of Police also announced the arrest of two additional suspects, Semiu Ishola, 39, and Adeyemi Ayobami, 35, who allegedly facilitated the use of the hideout and supported the gang’s activities.

Items recovered from the suspects included three pump-action rifles, 14 live cartridges, an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla allegedly used during the abduction, charms, an axe, a hammer, substances suspected to be hard drugs, and two face masks. Olugbenga disclosed that some members of the gang escaped during the operation and may have sustained gunshot injuries while fleeing.

The Commissioner appealed to residents, healthcare workers, private hospitals, traditional bone setters, and other medical practitioners to promptly report anyone presenting suspicious gunshot wounds or unusual medical cases to the nearest police station or security agency. He urged the public to be vigilant and security conscious, reporting suspicious persons, strange movements, and unusual activities within their communities, emphasizing that public information remains critical for crime prevention and successful law enforcement operations.

The Police boss lauded the Inspector-General of Police for his support and strategic leadership and appreciated the Oyo State Government for its continued collaboration with security agencies in safeguarding lives and property. He reassured residents that the Oyo State Police Command remains committed to eliminating criminal elements across the state and ensuring that all those involved in the kidnapping are apprehended and prosecuted.