By Stephen Simon
Fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in Oyo State emerged on Wednesday following the abduction of the younger sister of former Minister of Power and leading All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons by suspected gunmen in Ibadan.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped in the early hours of Wednesday at the Elewura area of Challenge in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, after armed men intercepted them and whisked them away to an unknown destination.
The victims were identified as Olaide John-Paul, Adelabu’s younger sister, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul.
Confirming the incident, one of Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, said the victims were abducted by unknown gunmen while going about their normal activities.
“Adelabu’s younger sister, together with her twin sons, Peter and Paul, were kidnapped this morning by unknown gunmen at Elewura, Challenge, Ibadan,” Awogboro said.
As of Wednesday evening, there was no official confirmation on whether the kidnappers had established contact with the family or made any ransom demand.
The Oyo State Police Command said it was still working to verify all details surrounding the incident as investigations continued.
The latest abduction comes at a particularly troubling time for Oyo State, which has witnessed a string of kidnapping incidents in recent months, fueling anxiety among residents and renewed calls for stronger security measures.
Only days ago, public outrage erupted over the abduction of teachers, pupils and school officials in parts of the state, triggering protests in Ibadan and other locations as concerned citizens demanded urgent government action to stem the growing insecurity.
The Challenge axis of Ibadan, where Wednesday’s abduction occurred, has also featured in recent kidnapping cases.
Earlier this year, a 12-year-old schoolgirl was abducted by armed men in the area while on her way to school, prompting a police manhunt and heightened security concerns among parents and residents.
The abduction of a close relative of a prominent political figure is expected to further intensify public debate over the security situation in Oyo State and across the country.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that kidnappings, once concentrated in parts of northern Nigeria, are increasingly spreading across other regions, with criminal gangs targeting schoolchildren, travellers, businesspeople and private citizens for ransom.
For many residents of Oyo State, Wednesday’s incident serves as another stark reminder that insecurity continues to pose a major threat regardless of social status, political influence or economic standing.
As security agencies intensify efforts to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators, anxious residents will be hoping for the safe return of Adelabu’s sister and her children, while calls grow louder for decisive measures to halt the rising wave of abductions in the state.
