Residents of Igboho in Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State have celebrated the reported release of a family allegedly abducted by kidnappers in the community.
The victims, said to include a pregnant woman, her children and a sibling, were reportedly freed hours after Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, issued a two-hour ultimatum over their continued captivity.
Videos circulating on social media showed jubilant residents gathering in large numbers, singing and dancing as news of the family’s return spread across the town.
As of the time of this report, the exact circumstances surrounding the victims’ release remained unclear.
The reported release came shortly after Igboho confronted leaders of the Fulani community in Igboho over allegations of kidnapping and insecurity in the area.
In an earlier viral video, the activist accused some members of the community of being linked to kidnappings and attacks on residents.
Expressing anger over reports that a pregnant woman and a person who allegedly delivered ransom money to secure the victims’ release were killed during the ordeal, Igboho said: “The person who brought the ransom, you still killed him and spared only one person.”
He warned that kidnapping and killings would no longer be tolerated in Igboho, insisting that he had exercised restraint following appeals from traditional rulers in the community.
“I am Sunday Igboho. I am calm because my fathers asked me to be calm with you. Let this be the last time such a thing will happen,” he said.
Igboho subsequently gave community leaders two hours to secure the release of the remaining abducted persons, warning that there would be consequences if they failed to do so.
He also threatened to move against locations he alleged were being used as hideouts by those responsible for the kidnappings.Faridah Abdulkadiri
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