She was taking her children to school. She never arrived.
Armed gunmen kidnapped Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, the younger sister of former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu, along with her 12-year-old twin sons Peter and Paul, in the Elewura area of Ibadan, Oyo State, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The family were in their vehicle on their way to drop the children at school when attackers intercepted them and forced them away.
Who Was Taken
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Mrs John-Paul, 43, is the youngest of five children of Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. Until her voluntary retirement last year, she had worked at both the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian. She had recently relocated to Ibadan with her children as she prepared to join her husband overseas.
The attack was swift. A witness said one of the gunmen smashed the driver’s side window before the victims were forced from the vehicle and taken to an unknown destination. Security agencies were immediately alerted. The family confirmed that investigations began quickly and expressed hope in the capacity of security forces to secure the safe release of the victims.
A State Under Pressure
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The Adelabu family abduction is one of several high-profile security incidents in Oyo State in recent months. In May 2026, over 40 teachers and students were kidnapped during a coordinated attack in Oriire Local Government Area. That attack prompted the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers to embark on an indefinite strike. Nationwide solidarity protests followed.
Furthermore, APC chieftain Wale Oriade had been abducted from his office in Ibadan in December 2025. The pattern of attacks suggests that armed criminal networks are operating with increasing boldness in parts of southwestern Nigeria — a region that had long been considered relatively safe compared to the northwest and northeast.
Atiku Weighs In
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar joined a growing chorus of voices calling for urgent government action to stop bandit attacks on schools and communities. He warned that escalating insecurity threatens Nigeria’s education sector in particular. His call reflects a national frustration that political will has not translated into sustained security improvement.
As of the time of this report, Mrs John-Paul and her twin sons had not been released. Security operations are ongoing. The family is waiting. Nigeria is watching.
