Oyo authorities debunk Igboho rescue claims

The Oyo State Government and the police have dismissed reports claiming that victims abducted in Igbope, Oorelope Local Government Area, regained their freedom following an ultimatum issued by Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

The clarification came after videos circulated on social media showing residents celebrating alongside Igboho, with claims that a kidnapped woman, her children and a sibling had been released.

However, the Chairman of Oorelope Local Government, Jacob Ogundiran, described the reports as false, insisting that the victims remain in captivity.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Ogundiran urged the public to disregard unverified information and rely only on updates from credible sources.

He assured residents that security agencies were intensifying efforts to secure the safe rescue of the victims and commended community members for their cooperation and intelligence support.

Similarly, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said there was no evidence that the victims had been freed or that Igboho played any role in their rescue.

According to him, rescue operations are still ongoing, adding that the victims were abducted in Igbope and not in Igboho town.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped during a midnight attack on their residence. Their abductors initially demanded a ransom of N300 million before reducing it to N150 million.

The incident sparked outrage in the area and prompted Igboho to issue a two-hour ultimatum to suspected kidnappers and Fulani community leaders, demanding the immediate release of the captives.

In a viral video, the activist accused some members of the Fulani community of involvement in recurring cases of kidnapping and killings in the area and warned that decisive action would follow if the victims were not released.

Despite the celebrations that followed the ultimatum, authorities have maintained that the abducted family members are yet to regain their freedom.