Oyo State Police Command confirmed Sunday that officers killed two kidnappers and arrested four others during a daring rescue operation. The victims included Mrs.
Busola Adegoke, sister of former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons.
Mrs. Adegoke was snatched around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as she drove Peter and Paul to school in Ibadan.
Her 12-year-old boys were in the vehicle when armed men took them.
Police operatives retrieved all three from captivity on Saturday night. The rescue took place in the Ayegun area of Oluyole Local Government Area after several hours of tactical operations.
They'd been locked inside a three-bedroom bungalow throughout their ordeal. Officers conducted a coordinated operation involving the Force Intelligence Department's Intelligence Response Team and state police units.
Commissioner Oluwagbemiga Abimbola briefed journalists at the scene on Sunday morning. He described the breakthrough as a major operational success.
"We've neutralized two armed kidnappers and arrested four members of the criminal network," Abimbola told reporters. Police also recovered weapons, ammunition, vehicles and other items used in the crime.
According to the police boss, Inspector-General Olatunji Rilwan Disu ordered immediate coordinated action once the kidnapping was reported. FID-IRT operatives and state police teams launched an intelligence-driven manhunt right away.
The breakthrough came through careful surveillance work around the crime scene. Officers arrested suspect Wale Abolalewa, known as "Oloro," who was already under police watch for related crimes.
Abolalewa's arrest opened doors into the wider kidnapping network, Abimbola noted. Interrogation and intelligence work led police to a second key suspect.
That second arrest was of Dare Oyedele, popularly called "Solution" within criminal circles. Investigators identified him as a crucial operational figure within the gang's structure.
Preliminary investigation revealed troubling details about gang activities. In May 2026, they'd attempted to recruit an insider from the victim's household named Segun.
This insider recruitment was part of a larger surveillance plan. Gang members spent weeks monitoring the family's daily movements and school routines.
Investigators found the suspects had initially targeted someone else entirely. They later changed plans and carried out the June 3 abduction instead.
An unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla served as their getaway vehicle. Police seized the car during the rescue operation.
Digital analysis revealed a structured approach to their criminal activity. Officers uncovered photographs and other evidence showing sophisticated planning.
The Commissioner said investigations continue into the criminal network. Police are pursuing additional lines of inquiry to identify other possible members and collaborators.
