By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
IBADAN — Relief swept through Oyo State on Saturday evening as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force successfully rescued Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, following a fierce gun battle with suspected kidnappers.
The victims were rescued unhurt at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday after security operatives, acting on intelligence, tracked down the gang believed to be responsible for their abduction.
Police sources disclosed that two members of the kidnapping syndicate were neutralised during the operation, while two firearms were recovered from the suspects.
Mrs. John-Paul and her twin sons were reportedly abducted around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday while she was taking the children to school, a development that sparked widespread anxiety and condemnation across Oyo State.
The Merit Newspaper reports that the incident prompted an intensive manhunt by security agencies, with investigators deploying intelligence-driven strategies and coordinated operations aimed at locating the victims and apprehending their abductors.
According to a senior security official, mounting pressure from the security agencies forced the kidnappers into a confrontation with police operatives, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
“The victims were rescued alive and are currently receiving medical evaluation. Our operatives are combing nearby areas for fleeing members of the syndicate, some of whom are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds,” the officer said.
The official added that security personnel had launched a fresh operation across surrounding communities to track down the remaining suspects who fled the scene during the encounter.
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Authorities have also appealed to members of the public to report anyone seeking treatment for suspicious gunshot wounds or exhibiting unusual movements, stressing that such information could aid efforts to dismantle the entire kidnapping network.
The abduction had generated widespread concern, given the prominence of the victims’ family and the growing concerns over kidnapping and other violent crimes in parts of the country.
Saturday’s rescue operation has, however, been hailed as a major breakthrough in the ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat kidnapping and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
As of press time, the Oyo State Police Command had yet to issue a comprehensive statement on the operation, while investigations and the manhunt for fleeing members of the gang were continuing.
