The family of Adebayo Adilabu, former Power Minister and a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, has confirmed the abduction of his younger sister, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adigoke John Paul, alongside her 12-year-old twin sons by suspected armed men in Ibadan.
According to a statement released by the family's media aide, Mr Femi Awogorod, the incident occurred around 7.30 a.m. while Mrs John Paul was on her way to drop her children, Peter and Paul, off at school on June 3rd in the city of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Mrs John Paul, aged 43, is the youngest of five children. The abduction was immediately reported to relevant security and law enforcement agencies for urgent intervention, according to the family statement.
The family condemned the incident as a cruel and disturbing act while expressing confidence that security agencies would act swiftly to help secure the safe return of the victims.
They also appealed for public calm, urging citizens to avoid spreading unverified information that could disrupt ongoing rescue efforts and encouraged anyone with credible intelligence to report it to the appropriate authorities.
The kidnapping adds to a growing wave of abductions across Nigeria, with multiple communities protesting the failure of security forces to rescue victims. In nearby Ekiti State, residents have been protesting for 36 days over kidnappings, having paid 10.5 million naira in ransom.
The incident highlights the persistent security challenges in southwestern Nigeria, a region that has seen a marked increase in kidnapping incidents targeting prominent families and their relatives in recent months.