BREAKING: Panic in Ibadan as gunmen kidnap former minister Adelabu’s brother’s wife, children

By Seyifunmi Odunuga 

IBADAN — An atmosphere of fear and anxiety has enveloped the Elewure community in the Challenge area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, following the early morning abduction of the wife and children of a brother to the former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint by heavily armed individuals who intercepted them during the early hours of Wednesday. According to sources within the neighborhood, the operation was carried out swiftly, leaving eyewitnesses and residents in shock as the gunmen forced the woman and her children into a waiting vehicle before speeding away to an undisclosed destination.

Chief Adebayo Adelabu, a prominent politician popularly known as "Penkele" who served as the nation's Minister of Power, has not yet issued an official statement regarding the harrowing incident. Sources close to the family confirmed the identity of the victims but indicated that the abductors have not yet opened lines of communication regarding their whereabouts or ransom demands.

The brazen nature of the attack has heightened worries over the security situation in the area, with residents calling for immediate and decisive action from security agencies.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Oyo State Police Command for official confirmation and details on the search-and-rescue operation were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.