By Yinka Giwa
Confusion has enveloped Oyo State following conflicting claims over the fate of victims abducted in Igbope, Oorelope Local Government Area, as both the local council and the police dismissed widespread reports that the captives had regained their freedom after an ultimatum issued by Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
The controversy erupted after a viral video circulated on social media showing jubilant residents singing, dancing, and celebrating alongside Igboho. The celebrations were widely interpreted as marking the release of a woman, her children, and a sibling who had been kidnapped by gunmen.
The purported release was linked to a two-hour ultimatum reportedly issued by Igboho to suspected kidnappers and Fulani community leaders, demanding that the abducted family be freed immediately.
However, authorities have now categorically denied that the victims have been rescued.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairman of Oorelope Local Government, Jacob Ogundiran, described reports of the victims’ release as false and misleading.
“The attention of the Oorelope Local Government Area leadership has been drawn to circulating rumours and unverified reports claiming the release of the kidnapping victims.
“We state authoritatively that these reports are false and misleading. The victims are still in captivity, and we urge the public to discountenance any information to the contrary unless it comes from credible sources,” the statement said.
Ogundiran assured residents that security agencies were intensifying efforts to secure the victims’ safe return, while commending community leaders and residents for providing intelligence to aid rescue operations.
He stressed that the protection of lives and property remained the administration’s foremost priority.
The Oyo State Police Command also moved swiftly to debunk reports that the hostages had been freed or that Igboho had facilitated their release.
Speaking with journalists, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, maintained that efforts to rescue the victims were still ongoing.
“Whatever the activist is doing, if the said victims are still in captivity, I don’t know. Efforts are ongoing to rescue them.
“Meanwhile, the victims were not even kidnapped in Igboho. They were kidnapped at Igbope,” Ayanlade said.
The victims were abducted during a midnight raid by armed men who reportedly invaded the community and whisked away members of a family.
According to reports, the kidnappers initially demanded a N300 million ransom before allegedly reducing their demand to N150 million.
The incident sparked outrage across the area and prompted a dramatic intervention by Igboho, who accused some members of the Fulani community of being responsible for recurring cases of kidnapping and violent crimes.
In the viral video that triggered the controversy, the activist was seen addressing traditional rulers and community representatives, expressing anger over what he described as escalating insecurity in the area.
He cited cases involving abduction victims, including a pregnant woman, and alleged instances where ransom payments ended in tragedy.
“The person who brought the ransom, you still killed him and spared only one person,” he said during the gathering.
Igboho warned that such incidents would no longer be tolerated and issued a two-hour deadline for the release of abducted residents.
“I am Sunday Igboho. I am calm because my fathers asked me to be calm with you. Let this be the last time such a thing will happen,” he declared.
He further threatened decisive action, including moving against locations allegedly linked to kidnapping activities, if the victims were not released.
But despite the celebrations that followed his ultimatum and widespread reports suggesting the abducted family had regained freedom, both local authorities and the police insist the victims remain in captivity, deepening the mystery surrounding the viral claims and raising fresh questions about what exactly triggered the jubilation in the community.