The Oyo State Government on Monday demolished a three-bedroom bungalow in the Lako Community of Ibadan allegedly used as a hideout by a kidnapping syndicate.

The property was identified as the location where Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, sister of former Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons were held during their recent abduction.

The demolition, carried out along the Ayegun–Anaye Road, was led by the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Architect Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, with support from the Nigeria Police Force. The state government also revoked the land title on which the property stood.

Speaking at the site, Mogbonjubola said the action was part of efforts to reinforce the state’s zero-tolerance policy on kidnapping.

“The government will not tolerate properties used as hideouts for criminals. This serves as a warning to landlords and property owners to ensure their properties are not used for unlawful activities,” he said.

The victims, Mrs. John-Paul and her sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted on 3 June 2026 while travelling to school in the Ring Road area of Ibadan. They were rescued on Saturday, 6 June, during a coordinated operation by the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT).

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, said the rescue followed sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance.

“These efforts enabled investigators to track the kidnappers’ movements, resulting in a confrontation with FID-IRT operatives,” he said.

During the operation, two suspects were killed in a gunfire exchange, while four others were arrested. Police identified key suspects as Wale Abolalewa (alias “Oloro”) and Dare Oyedele (alias “Solution”), alongside two alleged collaborators, Semiu Ishola and Adeyemi Ayobami.

Residents said the occupant of the bungalow had recently rented the property. Matthew Olaiya, Vice Chairman of the Ayegun–Lako Community Landlords Association, said neighbours became suspicious due to unusual movements and irregular presence at the house.

The demolition is linked to enforcement of the Oyo State Real Property Protection Law of 2016, which prescribes up to 15 years’ imprisonment for using property for criminal activities. It also follows broader security measures introduced by Governor Seyi Makinde, including Executive Order No. 002 restricting nighttime commercial motorcycle operations and tightening vehicle registration rules.

While the government says the action is a deterrent, it has sparked debate, with some residents supporting the move and others questioning the legality of demolishing property where owners were unaware of criminal use.