Police Deny Sunday Igboho’s Role in Oyo Kidnap Victims Release

Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboh

Police Deny Sunday Igboho’s Role in Oyo Kidnap Victims Release

The Oyo State Police Command has officially dismissed claims circulating online that Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, played any role in the release of kidnapped victims in Igboho, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State. Despite widespread reports that captives regained freedom shortly after Igboho issued a two-hour ultimatum to suspected kidnappers, the police said there is no official confirmation that the victims have been rescued, nor any evidence linking Igboho to any form of intervention. The controversy erupted after Igboho, in a viral video, issued a two-hour ultimatum to Fulani community leaders demanding the immediate release of abducted family members or face direct confrontation. Shortly afterwards, unverified online reports claimed the captives had regained freedom, sparking celebrations and emotional reactions among residents, with videos showing people singing and dancing in the streets.

The Oyo State Police Command countered the narrative, insisting there was no evidence confirming any rescue operation linked to the activist. “The Nigeria Police Force has officially debunked claims that the hostages have been safely released,” the command said, adding that the Oyo State Commissioner of Police had not confirmed Igboho’s involvement in any operation. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, described the circulating reports as “unsubstantiated” and urged the public to await verified information. The Command also cautioned against relying on unverified social media reports, stressing that official investigations were still ongoing. The police confirmed they had obtained Igboho’s viral video and were reviewing it as part of ongoing investigations into his threat of action against suspected kidnappers.

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The abduction had earlier thrown the Igboho community into distress after armed men reportedly invaded the area at night, abducted members of a family, and demanded a ransom initially pegged at N300 million before allegedly reducing it to N150 million during negotiations. Tension escalated further amid conflicting claims that a pregnant woman and a ransom courier may have been killed during the incident, deepening public concern. Igboho, in widely shared videos, condemned the rising wave of kidnappings in the region and issued stern warnings to those he accused of harbouring criminal elements. In his ultimatum, delivered at the palace of the Alepata of Igboholand, Oba Joel Olawuwo, Igboho addressed Fulani leaders directly: “I give you people two hours to release the woman, her children and her sibling who were kidnapped in the middle of the night. If I don’t see them within the next two hours, we will face each other”. The activist also questioned the pattern of abductions in the area, claiming that victims of the kidnappings were predominantly Yoruba residents.

As of the time of reporting, uncertainty still surrounds the fate of the abducted family, with conflicting accounts persisting across both local and online platforms. While some reports claimed the victims had been freed and celebrations erupted in parts of the community, the Oyo State Police Command maintained its position that the circulating reports remain unverified and should not be treated as official. This is not the first time Igboho’s role in a rescue operation has been disputed. The development comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in Oyo State, particularly the continued captivity of 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area. On May 15, armed men attacked three schools in the Ogbomoso axis of the state, with two people reportedly killed in one of the affected institutions.