By Our Correspondents
A family abducted in Igboho town, Oyo State, has regained freedom just hours after Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, issued a two-hour ultimatum to Fulani community leaders, demanding their immediate release .
The victims, reportedly a pregnant woman, her children, and a sibling, were seized during a midnight raid by suspected gunmen in the Oorelope Local Government Area.
The abduction had sparked outrage across the community, particularly after reports emerged that the pregnant woman and the person who delivered ransom money were both killed during negotiations.
According to sources, the abductors initially demanded N300 million before reducing the ransom to N150 million. However, efforts to secure the victims’ freedom turned tragic when the pregnant woman was allegedly killed alongside the ransom bearer.
In a viral video address delivered in Yoruba at the palace of the Alepata of Igboholand, Oba Joel Olawuwo, Igboho accused the kidnappers of terrorising his ancestral community. He addressed Fulani leaders directly, expressing fury that such criminality could occur in his homeland.
“You cannot be kidnapping people in my father’s land and expect me to keep quiet. I’m an original indigene of Igboho land,” he declared . “You kidnapped a pregnant woman, and the person who brought the ransom, you killed him. For what? In Igboho? You people are not even afraid of me in my father’s land.”
The activist insisted that Fulani residents in the community should take responsibility for the victims’ release and bear the burden of any ransom payment .
“We don’t have any ransom to pay. You Fulanis should raise that ransom among yourselves and pay because we don’t have such money. They started from N300 million and brought it down to N150 million,” he stated.
Handing down the two-hour deadline, Igboho warned of dire consequences if the victims were not produced .
“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 meet,” he said .
He also claimed that investigations had traced the victims’ whereabouts to several locations within the community, including the Baale’s compound in Baani.
He threatened to storm a forest reserve where he alleged the kidnappers were camped if the ultimatum was ignored .
Addressing the Divisional Police Officer present, Igboho warned against any complicity with criminal elements, cautioning that the community would not tolerate collusion .
Jubilation as Victims Return
Within hours of the ultimatum, videos emerged on social media showing jubilant residents of Igboho celebrating the return of the abducted family . Community members were seen singing and dancing as they welcomed the victims back .
While details surrounding their release remain sketchy, it was gathered that the kidnappers heeded Igboho’s warning and granted freedom to the captives. The victims were reportedly released without any ransom payment .
Police Investigation
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has confirmed that it has obtained the viral video of Igboho’s ultimatum and is reviewing it as part of ongoing investigations .
Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that the command was processing the video for investigation. However, as of press time, no official statement had been issued by security authorities regarding the release of the victims .
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.
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