I’m not involved in Adelabu sister’s kidnap – Senator Alli

Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, has denied any involvement in the abduction of Mrs Olaide Adegoke, younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.

The senator, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District, described social media claims linking him to the incident as “false, malicious, baseless, irresponsible, defamatory, and politically motivated.” The denial was contained in a statement issued by his media office and posted on his X handle on Sunday.

Mrs Adegoke was abducted around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, while driving her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, to school in Ibadan. Armed gunmen intercepted their vehicle in the Elewura area and took them hostage. The victims were rescued on Saturday, June 6, during a coordinated operation by the Nigeria Police Force’s Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team.

The statement said the claims against Alli, who recently defeated Adelabu to secure the APC governorship ticket, “lacked credibility and were based on unverified allegations allegedly made by a suspect under investigation.” It described as “absurd and illogical” any attempt to link the senator to criminal allegations based on such unverified claims.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Alli has no connection whatsoever with the said criminal incident, the individuals mentioned, or any activity related to kidnapping or violence,” the statement read.

Alli’s office also criticised attempts to link his campaign materials or stickers to criminality, calling it part of a “desperate agenda” by political detractors aimed at tarnishing his image. “We note with concern that even the report itself admitted that no security agency has established any link between Senator Alli and the alleged crime. It is therefore disturbing that faceless propagandists would deliberately weaponise unconfirmed claims to mislead the public and heat up the polity,” the statement added.

The senator condemned kidnapping and all forms of criminality, stressing that he had consistently supported efforts to strengthen security and protect lives and property in Oyo State and Nigeria. The statement urged the public to disregard false reports and avoid spreading misinformation capable of undermining ongoing security investigations or causing political tension.

It further called on security agencies “to investigate the source of the narrative and bring those responsible for fake news and political blackmail to justice.”

Police confirmed that the victims were rescued unharmed on Saturday evening, engaging the kidnappers in a gun duel, neutralising two suspects, and recovering firearms.