Gunmen abducted Olaide John-Paul, sister of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at about 7:30am while she was on her way to drop the children at school. Femi Awogboro, a media aide to Adelabu, confirmed the abduction in a statement, stating that the armed men took the three victims from their vehicle during the attack. John-Paul, 43, is the youngest of five children of Olufunmilayo Adelabu. She previously worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian before voluntarily retiring in 2023. After her retirement, she moved to Ibadan with her children while preparing to join her husband, John Paul, who had already relocated to the United States. Security and law enforcement agencies were notified immediately after the incident. Awogboro said that security operatives had launched preliminary investigations and were working to secure the safe release of the victims and apprehend the perpetrators. The statement emphasized that efforts were ongoing but provided no further details on suspects, demands, or possible leads.
The abduction of Adebayo Adelabu's sister and her children underscores the reach of armed criminal networks even into families of high-ranking former federal officials. Despite the family's connections and prior institutional affiliations, the attack occurred in broad daylight on a routine school run. The fact that the victims were taken at 7:30am in Ibadan points to operational boldness by the kidnappers. Security forces have begun investigations, but the incident exposes the persistent vulnerability of civilians regardless of status.
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