The Oyo State Government has demolished a building identified as a hideout used by a kidnapping syndicate that abducted the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons in Ibadan.
The structure, located in the Lakoun area along the Ayegun-Olojuoro Road corridor of Ibadan, was reportedly used to hold Mrs. Olaide Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons captive before their rescue by security operatives over the weekend.
The demolition exercise commenced on Monday, days after a coordinated security operation led to the victims’ release and the arrest of suspected members of the kidnapping network.
Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed heavy equipment bringing down the building, which security authorities believe served as an operational base for the criminal gang.
According to reports, the decision to demolish the structure followed a security assessment of the site conducted on Sunday by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Oluwagbemiga Abimbola, and other security officials.
Local media platforms covering the development described the property as a key location used by the abductors during the period the victims were held captive.
The demolition comes on the heels of a major breakthrough in the investigation into the abduction, which generated widespread concern across Oyo State and beyond.
Security agencies had earlier confirmed that the victims were rescued during a tactical operation carried out on Saturday.
During the operation, two suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate were reportedly killed in a gun battle with security operatives, while four other suspects were arrested.
The arrested suspects were subsequently paraded at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, as investigations into the wider criminal network continue.
Authorities believe additional members of the gang may still be at large.
The demolition is widely seen as part of ongoing efforts by the state government and security agencies to dismantle criminal infrastructure and send a strong warning to kidnappers and other violent offenders operating within the state.
Security officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and provide useful information that could assist in tracking down fleeing members of the syndicate.
The authorities also reiterated their commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal groups and ensuring that those responsible for kidnapping and related crimes are brought to justice.
The abduction of Mrs. Adegoke John-Paul and her children had sparked public outrage and renewed concerns over rising incidents of kidnapping and insecurity in parts of Oyo State, particularly along isolated corridors and developing communities on the outskirts of Ibadan.
With the rescue of the victims and the destruction of the suspected hideout, security agencies say efforts are continuing to uncover the full extent of the network behind the crime and prevent similar incidents in the future.
