By More details have emerged on the rescue operation that led to the freedom of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke, sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons, Peter and Paul, following their abduction in Ibadan on Wednesday, June 3.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbemiga, disclosed the details while briefing journalists on Sunday, June 7, at the Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
AfrikTimes had earlier reported that Mrs. John-Paul and her twin sons were abducted in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3, along Elewura Street, off Ring Road, Ibadan, while she was on her way to drop the children at school.
The victims were eventually rescued during a coordinated operation carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) and the Oyo State Police Command at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
According to the Commissioner, the victims were attacked and abducted by four armed men operating in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla. He explained that the rescue mission began immediately after the incident was reported, following directives from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu.
“Consequently, upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, acting on the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, ordered an immediate coordinated and intelligence-driven manhunt for the perpetrators. This led to the deployment of operatives of the FID-IRT in synergy with the Oyo State Police Command and other tactical teams to commence a comprehensive rescue and tracking operation,” he said.
The Commissioner revealed that intelligence gathered from the scene and surrounding areas led to the arrest of one Wale Abolalewa, popularly known as “Oloro”, who had been on the police watchlist for related criminal activities.
According to him, information obtained from the suspect led investigators to arrest another suspect, Dare Oyedele, popularly known as “Solution”, who was identified as a key member of the kidnapping gang.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang had earlier, in May 2026, attempted to recruit an insider within the victim’s household through one Segun, a staff member attached to the family. This formed part of a wider surveillance and reconnaissance plan during which the gang monitored the family’s movements, routines, and the schools attended by the children,” he added.
Investigation by the police revealed a detailed analysis of the structured surveillance operation carried out by the perpetrators. According to the police, digital footprints uncovered include photographs of the victim’s vehicles, school environment, daily routines, and lifestyle patterns, all used to profile and track the family prior to the attack.
Following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance, operatives stormed the identified three-bedroom bungalow located at Lakoun Community Estate, Ayegun, in the Olojuoro area of Oluyole Local Government Area. The hideout was raided at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
CP Abimbola disclosed that a gang member identified as “Kelechi”, who reportedly travelled from Lagos State and served as a lookout, spotted the approaching operatives and opened fire on them.
He was subsequently killed during the exchange, alongside another yet-to-be-identified member of the gang. The Commissioner said the victims were rescued unharmed and reunited with their family members.
The operation also led to the arrest of two additional suspects, Semiu Ishola, 39, and Adeyemi Ayobami, 35, who allegedly facilitated the use of the hideout.
Items recovered from the scene included three pump-action guns, an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla allegedly used for the abduction, 14 live cartridges, criminal charms, a battle axe, a hammer, substances suspected to be hard drugs, and two face masks.
The police have appealed to members of the public, medical practitioners, private hospitals, traditional bone setters, and other healthcare providers to report anyone presenting with suspicious gunshot wounds, as efforts continue to track down fleeing members of the syndicate.
Mattress, Cooking Utensils Found Inside Hideout
Before the press briefing, AfrikTimes, alongside the Commissioner of Police, on Sunday, June 7, visited the hideout where Mrs. Adegoke and her twin sons were reportedly held. The fenced three-bedroom bungalow is located within Lakoun Community Estate, Ayegun.
Items observed inside the building included a pink mattress, pillows, chairs, mats, a gas cylinder, cooking utensils, and a pot containing stew.
AfrikTimes also observed that the ceiling had been damaged in two separate locations, while a hole suspected to have been caused by gunfire was visible on one of the windows.
Addressing journalists at the scene, the Commissioner urged residents to report suspicious activities in their communities, stressing that timely information could help security agencies prevent crimes before they occur.
“People have been seeing them coming in here without anybody reporting the conduct. If you see something, you say something. If they had reported earlier, we would have been able to arrest them before now. They should report to the security agencies so that we can take necessary action immediately,” he said.
