By Ayodele Oni
Suspects arrested in connection with the abduction of Mrs. Adelabu-John Paul, younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons, attempted to recruit an insider close to the household to join the gang, according to Oyo State Police Command.
Police investigations also revealed that the kidnappers had monitored the family’s activities for weeks before the abduction.
The gang allegedly conducted surveillance on the family’s daily movements, vehicles, lifestyle, and the schools attended by the children.
These were revealed as the Police Command paraded four suspects arrested in connection with the abduction of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, family members.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report fleeing members of the kidnapping syndicate.
Earlier, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abimbola Olugbenga, 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.
The visit 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 subsequent press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Eleyele, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that investigations and security operations linked to the incident were still ongoing, assuring residents that every member of the criminal syndicate would be tracked down and brought to justice.
Olugbenga said the operation was carried out through 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.
According to him, the victims were abducted at about 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 of the incident, the police commissioner said the Command immediately launched an intelligence-driven manhunt on the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, leading to the deployment of specialised tactical and intelligence teams.
The operation led to the arrest of Wale Abolalewa, popularly known as “Oloro,” who was already on the Command’s watchlist.
His arrest, according to the police, provided a major breakthrough that exposed the wider kidnapping network.
Further investigations resulted in the arrest of Dare Oyedele, alias “Solution,” identified as another key member of the gang.
The commissioner disclosed that intelligence gathered from the suspects and digital evidence eventually led operatives to the gang’s hideout at Araromi Quarters, Ayegun North.
The police boss stated that following the operation, the victims were rescued unhurt and safely reunited with their family.
He further announced the arrest of two additional suspects identified as Semiu Ishola, 39, and Adeyemi Ayobami, 35, who allegedly facilitated the use of the hideout and supported the activities of the gang.
Items recovered from the suspects included three pump-action rifles, 14 live cartridges, an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla allegedly used during the abduction, criminal charms, a battle axe, a hammer, substances suspected to be hard drugs, and two face masks.
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