Adelabu’s Family Aide Conspired With Kidnappers – Oyo Police

The Oyo State Police Command has alleged that a personal assistant to a member of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s family, conspired with the abductors of the ex-minister’s sister and her twin sons.

Naija News reports that the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

The victims, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted on June 3 along Elewura, Ring Road, Ibadan, while she was taking them to school.

They were later rescued during a coordinated police operation that led to the killing of two suspected kidnappers and the arrest of some accomplices.

Ayanlade said the rescue operation was carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and coordinated by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police in collaboration with operatives of the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team.

According to him, one of the suspects, popularly called Ololu, had been on the command’s watch list before his arrest.

“Of course, one of the perpetrators by name popularly called Ololu has been on the command watch list. The operatives continued to trail him until his eventual arrest on Thursday,” he said.

He added that after Ololu’s arrest and interrogation, another suspect, identified as Dare and popularly called Solution, was arrested in Ibadan.

‘Personal Assistant Gave Inside Information’

The police spokesman alleged that the kidnap plot began in May when one of the suspects approached a personal assistant linked to the family for information.

He identified the aide as Shehu.

Ayanlade said, “The one who was with the family, who happened to be a personal assistant by name Shehu, was one of those who were picked.

“He was the one that was first approached by Daddy to give them inside information of how the family lives, their lifestyle, their routine, and all of that.”

According to him, the suspects had profiled the victims’ movements and initially planned to abduct the mother of the family.

Ayanlade said the kidnappers later changed their plan after discovering that a driver usually took the children to school.

He said the gang eventually struck on the day Mrs John-Paul personally drove the children.

According to Ayanlade, “Our initial plan was to kidnap the mother. However, they realised that it was the driver who usually takes them to school, and they changed their plan to go for the kids.

“Unfortunately for them, that day it was the mother who drove them to school, and they swung into action.”

The police spokesman said the victims were traced to a hideout at Ayegbule in Ibadan on June 6 around 7:30 pm.

He said one of the gang members, identified as Kelechi, who allegedly travelled from Lagos to participate in the operation, opened fire on police operatives.

Ayanlade said the operatives returned fire and neutralised him and another suspect who allegedly provided cover fire.

“They opened fire on the operatives, and then the operatives professionally and with tactical precision neutralised him and the second, who was also there to give a covering fire for him,” he said.

He added that weapons were recovered, while the victims were rescued unharmed.

Asked whether the kidnapping was politically motivated or done for ransom, Ayanlade said the investigation was still ongoing.

He added that police would not pre-empt the outcome of the investigation.

He said, “I would not want to preempt the investigation. The investigation is still ongoing. The suspects are in custody. They are undergoing investigation.

“We are still on the trail of the rest of them that escaped. Of course, we realised that on the day this incident happened, four of them were in the vehicle. But there are six in number who carried out this.”

The police spokesman said the command would get to the root of the matter and arrest all those connected to the abduction.

“Whosoever is sponsoring them, whosoever is responsible, whatsoever connections they have, whosoever is involved in this, they all will be arrested, and they will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.