Gunmen kidnap former minister's sister and her twin sons in Ibadan

Armed men kidnapped Busayo John-Paul, a 43-year-old sister of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, along with her twin sons on Wednesday morning in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident happened around 7:30 a.m. near the Challenge area while Mrs John-Paul was taking her 12-year-old twin boys, Peter and Paul, to school in a white Hyundai Sonata.

An eyewitness told Fresh FM that the attackers stopped the victims' car and forcefully took them away. The witness said the gunmen arrived in a silver Toyota Camry with two men inside. One of them smashed the driver's side window before taking the victims.

"There was a coaster bus passing at that time, and they (gunmen) overtook it before attacking the victims' car. The woman locked the door but they broke the glass, took them, and drove towards Molete Express," he said.

The police and other security agencies later arrived at the scene to investigate the incident.

The family of Mr Adelabu confirmed the kidnapping in a statement from Femi Awogboro, the former minister’s media aide. They called the event distressing and asked the public for support.

"The entire family is deeply distressed by this tragic development but remains hopeful and confident in the ability of the security agencies to secure the safe release of Mrs John-Paul and her children.

"Once the incident was reported, all relevant security and law enforcement agencies were contacted," part of the statement read. "Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and to catch those responsible for this crime."

Mr Awogboro mentioned that the abducted family members were planning to join Mrs John-Paul's husband, who had previously moved to the United States.

Mr Adelabu resigned as Minister of Power in April to contest the APC governorship primary in May in Oyo State but lost.

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the kidnapping and said they were working to rescue the victims and catch the kidnappers.

"We’ve started investigations and efforts to rescue the victims are ongoing," Olayinka Ayanlade, the police spokesperson in Oyo State, told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone.