The Oyo State Police Command has successfully rescued Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke, the younger sister of former Minister of Power and APC governorship aspirant Chief Adebayo Adelabu, along with her twin sons, following a coordinated intelligence-led operation that also led to the neutralisation of two suspected kidnappers, the arrest of four members of the criminal syndicate and the recovery of firearms, ammunition and operational vehicles.
The breakthrough was announced during a press briefing by the Oyo State Police Command, which provided further details on the operation that brought an end to the high-profile abduction that shook residents of Ibadan earlier this week.
According to the police, Mrs. Adegoke and her 11-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted on June 3, 2026, at about 7:30 a.m. by four armed men operating in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota vehicle. The incident occurred along Elewura Street, off Ring Road, Ibadan, while the mother was taking the children to school.
The command disclosed that following the distress report, the Inspector-General of Police directed an immediate response, prompting the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State to launch a coordinated manhunt 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.
Police investigators swiftly deployed intelligence-gathering resources and surveillance teams to track the kidnappers. Their efforts led to the arrest of one Wale Abolalewa, popularly known as “Oloro,” a suspect already on the police watchlist for related criminal activities.
Investigators said the arrest of Abolalewa provided a crucial breakthrough that exposed the wider kidnapping network. Further interrogation and intelligence exploitation subsequently led to the arrest of another suspect, Dare Oyedele, also known as “Solution,” who was identified as a key operative within the gang.
Preliminary findings revealed that the criminal syndicate had begun plotting the abduction several weeks earlier. Police said the gang allegedly attempted to recruit an insider within the victim’s household through a staff member identified as Segun. Investigators believe the suspects conducted extensive surveillance on the family’s daily movements, routines and the schools attended by the children before executing the kidnapping.
According to the police, the operation eventually culminated in the successful rescue of the victims, the neutralisation of two armed kidnappers during tactical engagements, and the arrest of four other members and collaborators of the syndicate.
The command also confirmed the recovery of weapons, ammunition, operational vehicles and other incriminating exhibits believed to have been used in carrying out the abduction and other criminal activities.
Police authorities described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime in Oyo State, noting that the success was made possible through intelligence-driven policing, inter-agency collaboration and sustained investigative efforts.
The rescue comes days after the Adelabu family publicly confirmed the abduction of Mrs. Adegoke and her children, expressing confidence in security agencies to secure their release. The incident had generated widespread concern across Oyo State and beyond due to the prominence of the family and the growing threat of kidnapping in parts of the country.
The Oyo State Police Command reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability and public safety, assuring residents that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and dismantle the entire criminal network behind the abduction.
Authorities urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in the ongoing effort to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
