By Our Correspondent
National News – Conflicting accounts have emerged over the fate of victims abducted in Igboho, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, with the local council and the Oyo State Police Command insisting that the captives are still in the custody of their abductors despite widespread claims of their release.
The controversy followed reports that Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, secured the freedom of the victims after issuing a two-hour ultimatum to suspected kidnappers and Fulani community leaders in the area.
Social media reports had claimed that the victims, including a woman, her children and a sibling, regained their freedom shortly after Igboho threatened to confront those allegedly responsible if they failed to release the hostages. The reports sparked celebrations in parts of Igboho town, with residents seen in viral videos rejoicing over what they believed was a successful rescue.
However, Chairman of Oorelope Local Government, Jacob Ogundiran, dismissed the reports as false, maintaining that the victims had yet to regain their freedom.
In a statement, Ogundiran urged residents to disregard unverified information and rely only on official channels for updates.
He said security agencies at both state and local levels were intensifying efforts to secure the safe rescue of the victims, adding that all necessary resources and strategies were being deployed to ensure a positive outcome.
“The kidnapped victims are yet to regain their freedom. We urge members of the public to disregard any information suggesting otherwise unless it emanates from official and credible sources,” he said.
The council chairman commended security personnel, stakeholders and residents for their support and intelligence gathering, assuring that the protection of lives and property remained a top priority.
The position of the council aligns with that of the Oyo State Police Command, which also denied reports linking the alleged release of the victims to Sunday Igboho.
According to the police, there is no official confirmation that the hostages have been rescued, while the state Commissioner of Police reportedly denied any involvement by the Yoruba Nation activist in a rescue operation.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command’s earlier statement was issued in reaction to claims circulating online.
The controversy stems from a viral video in which Sunday Igboho accused criminal elements of turning Igboho town into a hub for kidnapping and alleged that some members of the Fulani community were harbouring those responsible.
He condemned the reported killing of a pregnant woman and a ransom bearer and gave suspected kidnappers and community leaders a two-hour ultimatum to release the remaining captives, warning that failure to do so would attract consequences.
Igboho also alleged that those behind the abduction were known within the Fulani community and called on community leaders to take responsibility.
The abduction had generated outrage after gunmen reportedly kidnapped members of a family during a midnight attack and demanded an initial ransom of N300 million, later reduced to N150 million.
Amid the confusion surrounding the victims’ fate, both the Oorelope Local Government and the Oyo State Police Command have urged residents to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information while rescue efforts continue.
