By Adeola Badru, IBADAN
THE Oyo State Police Command, yesterday, revealed how a major intelligence-led operation led to the rescue of the sister of former Minister of Power, Mr Bayo Adelabu, and her two children, after they were held captive in a secluded hideout on the outskirts of Ibadan.
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Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her twin sons were abducted in the early hours of Wednesday at Elewura-Challenge in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.
The dramatic operation, which lasted several hours on Saturday night in the Ayegun area of Oluyole Local Government Area, resulted in the arrest of four suspected kidnappers, the killing of two others during a gun battle, and the recovery of weapons, including a pump-action shotgun.
Police said the victims – Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, younger sister of Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons, were rescued from a three-bedroom bungalow allegedly used by the kidnappers as a detention centre after their abduction earlier in the week.
Addressing journalists at the scene, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo Command, CP Oluwagbemiga Abimbola, disclosed that the breakthrough was achieved through intelligence gathering and technical surveillance following the kidnapping.
The police chief explained that the victims were abducted from the city and secretly transported to the remote property where they were concealed from public view.
Abimbola said: “After the incident on June 3, we had technical intelligence and based on that, we made a follow-up, which resulted in this operation.
“You have seen it all. They were kidnapped from the town and driven down here to hide them so that nobody would know the whereabouts of the victims,” Abimbola said while conducting journalists around the property.
Building served as safe house for gang
The CP expressed concern that suspicious activities around the premises allegedly went unreported despite its location within a residential environment.
“People have been seeing them coming in here without anybody reporting the conduct,” he said.
He added that preliminary findings from individuals interviewed by investigators suggested that unusual activities had been noticed around the compound before the police raid.
“According to those we have interviewed, they said they would hear what was happening in the other compound, but they could not come out,” he stated.
Abimbola used the occasion to urge residents across the state to become more vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and activities in their communities.
“Obviously, what is there is that if you see something, you say something. If they had done that earlier, maybe we would have been able to arrest them before now.
“When residents have any idea of sinister activities around them, they should report to the security agencies so that we can take necessary action”, he said.
Police sources disclosed that a fierce exchange of gunfire erupted during the midnight operation, leading to the death of two members of the gang.
4 suspects arrested
Four suspects were arrested at the scene, while others reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds.
The Command also recovered firearms and other items believed to have been used by the kidnappers during their operations.
Responding to questions over speculation that the abduction may have been politically motivated because of Adelabu’s political profile, the Commissioner said: “We are still investigating.”
On concerns regarding the legal implications for the property allegedly used as a kidnap hideout, Abimbola noted that government authorities would determine the next course of action.
He said: “The public should expect that the government will take a decisive decision as regards this question.”
No external group involved in rescue mission
The police chief also dismissed rumours linking any external group to the rescue mission, saying: “I am not aware of that.”
