Suspected kidnappers have abducted the wife and twin children of the younger brother of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, in Ibadan.
The victims were reportedly seized by armed men on Wednesday morning in the Challenge area of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.
According to a media aide to Adelabu, Femi Awogboro, the victims were identified as Laide Adelabu and her twin children, Peter and Paul.
Awogboro disclosed that the family members were travelling from the Elewura area to connect with the expressway when they were ambushed by gunmen who forcefully whisked them away to an unknown destination.
“Adelabu’s younger brother’s wife, Laide, together with her twin children, Peter and Paul, were kidnapped this morning by unknown gunmen at Elewura, Challenge, Ibadan,” he said.
“The family was heading out from Elewura to link the expressway when the attackers struck and abducted them.”
The incident has heightened concerns over the growing insecurity in parts of Oyo State, particularly the increasing cases of kidnapping and violent crimes.
The latest abduction comes barely weeks after more than 40 teachers and students were reportedly kidnapped during a coordinated attack in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, on May 15, 2026.
Kidnapping incidents have also targeted political figures in the state. In December 2025, an APC chieftain, Wale Oriade, was abducted by armed men in Ibadan.
Oriade was reportedly kidnapped around 7:06 p.m. at his office located within the PJ Square Shopping Complex, near the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) station at Elewura along the Iyana-Ajanla axis of the Akala Expressway.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in a blue Nissan Micra with two occupants. One of them, armed with a weapon, allegedly forced Oriade into the vehicle before speeding away.
The brazen nature of the operation sparked fears among residents and political associates, who described the incident as a troubling sign of worsening security challenges in the state.
Reacting to Wednesday’s abduction, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command was yet to independently verify the incident.
“I cannot independently verify this for now, but please hold on,” Ayanlade said in a text message to journalists.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not released further details regarding the whereabouts of the victims or any rescue efforts underway.
The latest incident is expected to intensify calls for stronger security measures to tackle the rising wave of kidnappings and protect residents across Oyo State.
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