The wife and twin children of the younger brother of the former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 gubernatorial hopeful in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, have been kidnapped in Ibadan, the state capital.
An eyewitness told PUNCH Online that the incident took place on Wednesday in the Challenge area of Ibadan South West Local Government Area of the state.
Confirming the incident, one of Mr Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, said: “The wife of Adelabu’s younger brother (Laide), together with her twins (Peter and Paul), were kidnapped this morning (Wednesday) by unknown gunmen at Elewura, Challenge, Ibadan.
“The family members were heading out this morning from Elewura to join the expressway when they were attacked and bundled away by the unknown kidnappers,” he explained.
The PUNCH reports that more than 40 teachers and students were kidnapped on Friday, 15 May 2026, during a co-ordinated attack at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
It will also be recalled that a chieftain of the APC in the state, Wale Oriade, was abducted by armed men in Ibadan, the state capital, in December 2025.
It was understood that the incident occurred around 7:06 pm at his office, located at PJ Square Shopping Complex, beside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited station, Elewure, along Iyana Ajanla, Akala Expressway, New Garage, Ibadan.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in a blue Micra vehicle with two occupants – a driver and an armed man – who forcibly seized Oriade and drove him away in the same vehicle.
“The nature of the attack and the precision with which it was carried out have caused deep concern within his community,” the eyewitness said.
Reacting in a text message sent to Crime Reporters Oyo on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said: “I cannot independently verify this for now, but please hold on.”
