Uncertainty has trailed reports of the alleged release of abducted victims in Igbope, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, as both the local government chairman and the state police command have dismissed the claims.
The controversy began after a viral video surfaced on Saturday showing residents celebrating in large numbers alongside Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho. In the footage, people were seen singing and dancing, with many interpreting the gathering as a celebration of the victims’ release.
The abducted persons—a woman, her children, and a sibling—were reportedly said to have regained freedom following a two-hour ultimatum issued by Igboho to suspected kidnappers and certain Fulani community leaders demanding their release.
However, authorities have firmly rejected those claims.
In a statement on Sunday, the Chairman of Oorelope Local Government, Jacob Ogundiran, described the reports as false and misleading, stressing that the victims remain in captivity.
He said, “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.”
Ogundiran added that security agencies were intensifying efforts to rescue the victims and urged the public to rely only on verified information. He also commended community members for supporting ongoing intelligence gathering.
Similarly, the Oyo State Police Command dismissed the reports and denied that any rescue had taken place or that Igboho played any role in the matter.
Police spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said efforts were still ongoing to secure the release of the victims, clarifying that the abduction did not occur in Igboho but in Igbope.
“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 kidnapped in Igboho. They were kidnapped at Igbope,” he said.
The victims were reportedly seized during a midnight raid by armed men, who initially demanded ₦300 million ransom before later reducing it to ₦150 million.
The incident had earlier triggered a strong reaction from Sunday Igboho, who issued a warning over rising insecurity in the area and gave a two-hour ultimatum for the release of the captives.
In a viral video, he accused suspected individuals of involvement in kidnapping cases and condemned repeated attacks in the community, citing previous violent incidents.
He warned that failure to comply with his ultimatum would force further action, including moving against suspected hideouts.
Despite the online celebrations that followed his intervention, authorities insist no confirmation exists that the victims have been released.