Inside details of ex-power minister’s sister, nephews rescue from kidnappers

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Oyo State Police Command on Sunday revealed inside details of the operation that led to the rescue of Mrs. Adegoke Olaide Busayo, the junior sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu and her eleven-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul.

The 47-year-old woman and her two sons were abducted on 3rd June 2026, at about 7:30 a.m. by gunmen at Elewura Street, Off Ring Road, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, while she was conveying the children to school.

However, she and her children were rescued on Saturday evening after a police operation that culminated in the killing of four kidnappers, the arrest of four other suspects, and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, operational vehicles, and other exhibits.

The Oyo State Police Command had earlier confirmed the rescue of the Busayo and her two children.

However, at a press briefing on Sunday evening, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the spokesperson for the Oyo Police Command gave a more comprehensive account of the events that led to the successful rescue of the abducted victims at a hideout of the kidnappers at Lado community, Ayegun Ibadan.

The rescue effort, he was a coordinated operation between the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), the Oyo State Police Command and other tactical units of the Nigeria Police Force.

The first breakthrough in the operation was with the initial intelligence gathered from the crime scene which led to the arrest of one Wale Abolalewa, popularly known as “Oloro,” a suspect, who he said was on the Command’s watchlist for related criminal activities.

Ayanlade said sustained interrogation of Oloro and further investigative exploitation of intelligence led to the arrest of a second suspect, Dare Oyedele, popularly known as “Solution,” who was identified as a key operational link within the gang’s structure.

Ayanlade also revealed that police investigation revealed that the kidnap gang had earlier attempted to recruit an insider within the victim’s household through one Segun, a staff member attached to the family.

“This formed part of a wider surveillance and reconnaissance plan during which the gang monitored the family’s movements, routines, and the schools attended by the children,” the spokesperson said.

The kidnap gang, he said, eventually proceeded with the actual abduction on 3rd June 2026, using the unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla.

However, the spokesperson said examination of the digital footprints of members of the gang revealed a structured surveillance operation, including photographs of the victim’s vehicles, school environment, daily routines, and lifestyle patterns, all used to profile and track the family prior to the attack.

The footprints, combined with intelligence assets helped operatives to positively identify the suspects’ hideout located at Lado community Ayegun Ibadan, leading to the rescue operation carried out on 6th June 2026, at about 7:30 p.m.

Ayanlade said upon sighting the advancing operatives, one of the gang members identified as “Kelechi,” who had travelled from Lagos State and was positioned as a lookout, engaged them operatives in a gun duel, but was killed alongside another yet- to- be identified member of the gang.

The operatives, he said cleared the hideout and rescue Mrs. Adegoke Olaide Busayo and her twin sons, Peter and Paul who were later reunited with their family.

The Oyo Police Command spokesperson added that follow-up operations led to the arrest two suspects, Wale Abolalewa alias “Oloro” and Dare Oyedele alias “Solution,” who are currently assisting investigators with critical information aimed at apprehending other fleeing members of the syndicate.

Two other suspects, Semiu Ishola and Adeyemi Ayobami, allegedly responsible for contracting and facilitating the use of the hideout were also arrested.

Ayanlade listed exhibits recovered by the operatives to include three pump-action guns rifle, an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla used for the abduction, 14 live Cartridges, criminal charm, battle Axe, hammer, substances suspected to be hard drugs and facemask.

“Investigations are ongoing, with intensified efforts to apprehend other fleeing suspects believed to have escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries sustained during the encounter with operatives,” the spokesperson said.

The Command therefore urged on members of the public, medical practitioners, private hospital operators, traditional bone setters, and other healthcare providers to promptly report any individual presenting with suspicious gunshot injuries or unusual medical cases to the nearest Police Station or security agency.

He assured that such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

“Furthermore, residents are strongly advised to remain vigilant and security conscious, and to promptly report any suspicious movement, unusual activity, strange persons, or security concerns within their communities. Timely, credible, and actionable information remains vital to effective crime prevention, detection, and successful law enforcement operations.

“The Oyo State Police Command reiterates its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property across the State and assures the public that all criminal elements will be relentlessly pursued, arrested, and brought to justice.”