No APC Link Found: Police Say Adelabu’s Sister Kidnap linked to ‘Gang’ working for Ex-Minister’s Aide Ajiboye Sangogade
By Trek Africa Newspaper
• Voice Note, Handouts Pin Syndicate to Ex-Minister’s PA, Police Probe Continues
Police investigation into the abduction of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, and her 11year-old twin sons has cleared Oyo APC governorship hopeful, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, of any link to the crime.
Instead, findings by the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team, FID-IRT, point to suspects directly connected to Mr. Ajiboye Sangogade, Personal Assistant to Chief Adebayo Adelabu, according to police sources and exhibits recovered from crime scenes.
The Nigeria Police Force rescued Mrs. Adegoke and her twins, Peter and Paul, on Saturday evening, June 6, 2026, three days after they were kidnapped on June 3 in Ibadan while driving to school.
In a tactical raid at a hideout in Lado community, Ayegun, Ibadan, operatives neutralised two suspects during a gun battle. Exhibits later recovered include three(3) pump-action rifles, 14 live cartridges, an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla used in the abduction, criminal charms, a battle axe, hammer, suspected hard drugs and face masks.
During the Police press conference on Sunday, items recovered from the suspects and their handouts were displayed and revealed that there were no sticker, logo, or material linking APC or Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the APC gubernatorial candidate, to the syndicate.”
Rather, investigators established that all the arrested suspects are allies and boys linked to Ajiboye Sangogade, PA to Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
The suspects in custody include:
1. Wale Abolalewa, alias “Oloro” – Key syndicate member on police watchlist. Arrested and providing intelligence. Linked to planning and execution.
2. Dare Oyedele, alias “Solution” – Principal operational link involved in surveillance and execution. In custody.
3. Semiu Ishola, 39 – Agent who contracted the Lado hideout.
4. Adeyemi Ayobami, 35 – Agent who facilitated the hideout.
Kelechi and one unidentified gang member were neutralised during the raid after opening fire on Police operatives.
A trending voice note attributed to a suspected girlfriend of Ajiboye has also surfaced. In the recording, she is heard telling another person on phone that “they must ensure they pin this kidnapping incident and the suspects on Senator Alli.”
Security sources said the voice note, now in police custody, has made the earlier allegation linking Senator Alli to the group “spurious, bunkum and bad politicking” aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the leading APC governorship contender ahead of the 2027 election.
An aide to Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, earlier alleged an “insider job,” naming Mr. Segun Alawaye and Mr. Oloro as ringleaders. He described both as political supporters of the ex-minister often seen with his PA Ajiboye Sangogade.
Police said the gang had conducted structured surveillance on the family, photographed vehicles and school environments and even attempted to recruit an insider, “Segun, a household staff member,” in May 2026.
The Oyo State Police Command said the manhunt for fleeing suspects, some believed to have gunshot injuries, is ongoing. The Commissioner of Police has urged hospitals and clinics to report anyone with suspicious bullet wounds.
A senior officer said: “The investigation is ongoing to apprehend all collaborators. The suspects and their sponsors will face the full weight of the law. No sleep for the wicked.”
Senator Alli has since congratulated Chief Adebayo Adelabu on his sister’s release while urging police to be thorough and prosecute all arrested suspects to deter future kidnappings.
The Senator had also in a statement by his media office, appreciated the security agencies who ensured the release of the abductors, just as he further appealed for intensified efforts to free teachers and students who were recently kidnapped by bandits in schools located in Ahoro Esiele and Yawota Ogbomoso in Oriire local government area of the State.
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