There was relief in Oyo State on Saturday following the rescue of Mrs. Olaide John-Paul and her twin sons, days after they were abducted by armed men in Ibadan.
The victims, who were kidnapped on Wednesday while on their way to school, regained their freedom after spending three days in captivity, according to the Oyo State Police Command.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olayinka Olushola, said the mother and her children were rescued unharmed.
“Yes, they have been rescued unhurt,” Olushola said in a brief text message, adding that details surrounding the operation would be made public later.
The rescued woman is the younger sister of Adebayo Adelabu, a former Minister of Power and prominent political figure in Oyo State.
The abduction cause widespread concern after reports emerged that the victims were ambushed by armed men around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday while John-Paul was taking her children to school in Ibadan.
According to one of Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, the kidnapped children, Peter and Paul, are 12-year-old twins.
Awogboro had disclosed that John-Paul is the youngest of the five children of Olufunmilayo Adelabu. He noted that she previously worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and later with First Bank Pension Custodian before voluntarily retiring from active service in 2025.
Following her retirement, she reportedly relocated to Ibadan with her children while making arrangements to reunite with her husband, who had earlier moved to the United States.
The successful rescue has been welcomed by residents and stakeholders, particularly against the backdrop of growing concerns over insecurity and kidnapping in parts of Oyo State and the wider South-West region.
However, the development has also renewed attention on the plight of dozens of schoolchildren and teachers who remain in captivity following a separate mass abduction in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
More than 40 pupils and teachers from three schools in the Ogbomoso axis were abducted on May 15 and have reportedly spent over three weeks in captivity. The victims include children as young as two years old, raising concerns among parents, community leaders and civil society groups.
