Oyo Police: How Family Aide Conspired in Kidnap of Ex-Minister’s Sister, Twin Sons

The Oyo State Police Command says a personal assistant linked to the family of former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu conspired with kidnappers who abducted the ex-minister’s sister and her 12-year-old twin sons.

Police Public Relations Officer Olayinka Ayanlade disclosed this Monday on Channels Television’s _The Morning Brief.

The victims, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and twins Peter and Paul, were abducted on June 3 along Elewura, Ring Road, Ibadan, while she drove them to school. They were rescued June 6 during a police operation that left two suspected kidnappers dead and several accomplices arrested.

Ayanlade said the operation was directed by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and coordinated by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police with the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team.

One suspect, known as Ololu, had been on the command’s watch list before his arrest on Thursday, Ayanlade said.
“Operatives continued to trail him until his eventual arrest,” he said.

After Ololu’s interrogation, police arrested another suspect, Dare, alias Solution, in Ibadan.

‘Aide Gave Inside Information’
Ayanlade alleged the plot began in May when a suspect approached a personal assistant linked to the family for details on their routine. He identified the aide as Shehu.

“The one who was with the family, who happened to be a personal assistant by name Shehu, was one of those who were picked,” Ayanlade said. “He was first approached by Daddy to give them inside information of how the family lives, their lifestyle, their routine, and all of that.”

He said the gang initially planned to abduct the mother but changed targets after learning a driver usually took the children to school. They struck on the day Mrs John-Paul drove them herself.

“Our initial plan was to kidnap the mother. However, they realised that it was the driver who usually takes them to school, and they changed their plan to go for the kids,” Ayanlade said. “Unfortunately for them, that day it was the mother who drove them to school, and they swung into action.”

Rescue and Shootout
Police traced the victims to a hideout in Ayegbule, Ibadan, around 7:30 p.m. on June 6. Ayanlade said a gang member, Kelechi, who allegedly travelled from Lagos for the operation, opened fire on operatives.

“They opened fire on the operatives, and then the operatives professionally and with tactical precision neutralised him and the second, who was also there to give a covering fire for him,” he said.

Weapons were recovered. The victims were rescued unharmed.

Investigation Ongoing
Asked if the kidnapping was politically motivated or for ransom, Ayanlade said investigations continue and the command would not pre-empt the outcome.

“The suspects are in custody. They are undergoing investigation. We are still on the trail of the rest of them that escaped,” he said. “We realised that on the day this incident happened, four of them were in the vehicle. But there are six in number who carried out this.”

He added: “Whosoever is sponsoring them, whosoever is responsible, whatsoever connections they have, whosoever is involved in this, they all will be arrested, and they will face the full wrath of the law.”