The Oyo State Government on Monday demolished a building allegedly used by kidnappers who abducted Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adelabu Adebayo , and her twin sons.
The three-bedroom bungalow, located in Lako Community along the Aiyegun-Anaye Road in Ibadan, was identified by security operatives as the hideout where the victims were allegedly held after their abduction.
Officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, accompanied by police operatives, carried out the demolition as residents watched the structure reduced to rubble.
The action followed the successful rescue of Mrs. John-Paul and her children, Peter and Paul, by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) and the Oyo State Police Command during an intelligence-led operation.
Investigations revealed that the victims were kidnapped on June 3 while the mother was taking the children to school in Ibadan and were subsequently taken to the hideout in Lako Community.
Acting on intelligence and information obtained from suspects, security operatives traced the location and stormed the facility on June 6.
During the operation, the victims were rescued unharmed, two suspected kidnappers were killed, while several members and collaborators of the gang were arrested.
Security operatives also recovered firearms, ammunition, charms, face masks and the vehicle allegedly used for the operation.
Authorities said the demolition was part of efforts to dismantle criminal infrastructure and send a strong warning to kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the state.
The government reiterated its commitment to combating kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes, while urging residents to continue providing useful information to security agencies.
Meanwhile, security operatives have intensified efforts to track down other members of the kidnapping syndicate believed to have escaped during the raid.
