Police Allege Insider Information In Adelabu’s Sister’s Kidnap
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Oyo State Police Command has alleged that a personal assistant attached to the family of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, provided information that aided the abduction of his sister, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, and her 12-year-old twin sons in Ibadan.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, made the disclosure on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief while providing updates on the investigation into the kidnapping.
TheFact Daily recalls that Mrs John-Paul and her twin sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted on June 3 along the Elewura area of Ring Road, Ibadan, while she was taking the children to school. The victims were later rescued unharmed during a police operation that also resulted in the death of two suspected kidnappers.
Ayanlade said the rescue operation was conducted on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and coordinated by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police in collaboration with operatives of the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT).
According to him, one of the principal suspects, identified simply as Ololu, had been on the police watch list prior to his arrest. Intelligence obtained during his interrogation allegedly led to the arrest of another suspect, identified as Dare, also known as Solution.
The police spokesperson alleged that investigations revealed that a personal assistant to the family, identified as Shehu, provided the kidnappers with information about the family’s routine and movements.
He said the suspects had initially planned to abduct Mrs John-Paul but later shifted their focus to her children after discovering that a driver usually took them to school. However, on the day of the incident, their mother was behind the wheel, leading the kidnappers to target all three victims.
Ayanlade said the victims were traced to a hideout in Ibadan on June 6 during a rescue operation carried out at about 7:30 p.m.
According to the police, one of the suspects, identified as Kelechi, who allegedly travelled from Lagos to participate in the operation, opened fire on security operatives during the raid. The officers responded and neutralised him and another suspect who was reportedly providing cover.
The police said weapons were recovered from the scene, while investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects and uncover all those connected to the abduction.
Ayanlade noted that the suspects currently in custody are assisting investigators, adding that efforts are being intensified to dismantle the entire kidnapping network.
