The Oyo State Police Command has revealed how a kidnapping syndicate spent weeks planning and carrying out the abduction of the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, alongside her twin sons in Ibadan.
According to the police, the suspects conducted detailed surveillance on the family, monitoring their movements, daily routines, and the schools attended by the children before executing the operation.
The victims, identified as a 42-year-old woman and her 11-year-old twin sons, were reportedly abducted on 3 June while she was taking them to school in the Elewura area of Ring Road, Ibadan.
Police said four armed men intercepted them in an unregistered vehicle during the early morning hours and whisked them away.
Investigations revealed that the gang had previously attempted to infiltrate the household by trying to recruit an insider connected to the family, while also gathering photographs and intelligence on their movements as part of their planning.
The police explained that intelligence-led operations began immediately after the incident was reported, leading to a coordinated effort involving the Force Intelligence Department, the Oyo State Command, and other tactical units.
Following sustained investigation, security operatives arrested key suspects linked to the network, which helped expose the location of the kidnappers’ hideout in Ibadan.
A subsequent raid on the hideout led to a gun duel between security operatives and members of the gang, during which two suspects were killed while others reportedly fled with injuries.
The abducted woman and her twin sons were rescued unharmed during the operation and later reunited with their family after being placed under protective custody.
Police also recovered firearms, ammunition, and other criminal tools believed to have been used by the syndicate, including vehicles, weapons, and assorted items linked to the operation.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to track down remaining members of the gang who escaped during the raid, while urging medical facilities and traditional healers to report anyone seeking treatment for gunshot wounds.
The police described the operation as a breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle organized kidnapping networks in the state.
