Residents of Igboho in Oorelope Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo state were thrown into celebration after a family allegedly abducted by suspected kidnappers was reportedly released hours after the Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, issued a two-hour ultimatum demanding their freedom.
The victims, said to include a pregnant woman, her children and a sibling, were reportedly freed after spending days in captivity, sparking jubilation across the community as residents poured into the streets in excitement and relief.
Videos circulating on social media showed large crowds singing, dancing and welcoming the victims home, with many describing the development as a rare moment of collective relief amid rising insecurity concerns in the area.
The incident began when armed men allegedly invaded the family’s residence during a midnight attack and whisked them away to an unknown location, triggering panic across the community.
According to reports, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦300 million as ransom before later reducing the figure to ₦150 million during negotiations, placing severe emotional and financial pressure on the victims’ relatives.
The situation escalated further after claims emerged that a pregnant woman and a ransom bearer were killed during the ordeal despite efforts being made to secure the release of the abducted family members. The alleged killings deepened anger in the community and heightened calls for urgent intervention.
The reported killings drew a strong reaction from Sunday Igboho, who accused criminal elements of turning Igboho and surrounding communities into hotspots for kidnapping and violent attacks.
Speaking in a viral video addressed to community leaders and Fulani representatives, Igboho condemned the situation and insisted that the attacks could no longer be tolerated.
“You can’t be kidnapping in my father’s land and expect me to keep quiet. I’m an original indigene of Igboho land,” he said.
He further alleged that some individuals within the community were aware of those behind the kidnappings but had failed to take decisive action to stop them. He also questioned what he described as a pattern in the attacks, claiming that Yoruba residents were increasingly becoming targets.
In response to the growing tension, Igboho issued a two-hour ultimatum demanding the immediate release of the remaining abducted family members.
“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,” he warned.
He also urged residents not to encourage ransom payments, insisting that communities must take a stronger stand against kidnapping networks operating in the area.
Shortly after the ultimatum elapsed, reports emerged that the abducted family had regained their freedom.
The development immediately triggered widespread celebrations in Igboho, with residents flooding the streets in excitement, singing and dancing as news spread rapidly across the town.
Many residents described the release as a significant relief and a symbolic breakthrough in the community’s ongoing struggle with insecurity, particularly kidnapping incidents that have become more frequent in rural areas.
As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had yet to issue an official statement confirming the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release or whether arrests had been made.
The incident has, however, renewed concerns over the growing threat of kidnapping in parts of Oyo state, with residents and stakeholders calling for stronger security measures to prevent future occurrences and restore public confidence in safety across rural communities.
