The Nigeria Police Force has rescued the younger sister of a former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, alongside her twin sons, following a coordinated security operation in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The victims, identified as Mrs Olaide John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted earlier in the week while on their way to school in the Challenge area of Ibadan. The incident had sparked concern among residents and triggered immediate security investigations across the state.
For many people in the area, the attack added to growing fears over kidnapping incidents in parts of Oyo State, especially along routes commonly used for school runs and daily movement.
Police authorities confirmed that the victims were successfully rescued after a late-night operation carried out by operatives tracking the suspects to a hideout. During the operation, security forces engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel.
According to police sources, two of the suspected kidnappers were killed during the confrontation, while others were arrested. Firearms and other items believed to have been used in the operation were also recovered from the scene.
“The operation was successful and the victims have been safely rescued,” a security source said.
The rescue operation is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies in Oyo State to respond more quickly to kidnapping cases and dismantle criminal networks operating in forested and semi-urban areas.
In recent months, the state has witnessed several coordinated operations targeting suspected kidnapping camps, illegal hideouts, and criminal routes used for abducting victims and moving them into remote forest locations.
Security officials say intelligence gathering and community reports played a key role in locating the suspects’ hideout in this case, allowing operatives to move in before the victims could be taken further away.
Residents in Ibadan have continued to call for stronger security presence, especially in outer communities where response time can be slower due to distance and difficult terrain.
Authorities, however, maintain that ongoing operations are yielding results, pointing to recent arrests, rescues, and recoveries as evidence of intensified pressure on criminal groups.
The police also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements early, stressing that timely information remains critical in preventing abductions and improving rescue outcomes.
Family members of the rescued victims are expected to reunite with them after medical checks and debriefing procedures, which are standard after such operations.
The incident adds to a series of kidnapping cases in parts of the South-West, where security agencies have continued to increase patrols and forest clearance operations aimed at disrupting criminal hideouts.
For now, attention remains on sustaining pressure on the kidnappers’ network and preventing further attacks on vulnerable routes, especially around school corridors and residential areas.
