…As abductors reduce ransom to N150m
CITIZENS COMPASS— There was confusion over the weekend, following the reported release of the abducted victims of Igboho in Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Igboho is the home town of the Yoruba Nation’s agitator, Oloye Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Igboho.
Adeyemo was captured in viral videos storming the forest behind the Old Oyo Park depicting that he was out to secure the release of the victims; an expectant mother alongside her family members.
Shortly after the video, there were reports that the abductees have been released following a two-hour ultimatum that Adeyemo issued to Fulani leaders in the area.
However, the council chairman, Jacob Ogundiran, and the Oyo State Police Command said the abductees were yet to be released.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ofundiran described reports of the victims’ release as false and misleading.
“The kidnapped victims are yet to regain their freedom. We urge members of the public to disregard any information suggesting otherwise unless it emanates from official and credible sources.
“The protection of lives and property remains a top priority of this administration, and no effort will be spared in ensuring the safe return of the victims,”
Aligning with the position of the Council Chairman, spokesperson, Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, said there was no official confirmation that the victims had been rescued and maintained that there was no evidence connecting Igboho to any rescue operation.
“The Nigeria Police Force has officially debunked claims that the hostages have been safely released.
“The Oyo State Commissioner of Police has explicitly denied that Sunday Igboho was involved in recent rescue operations.”
Describing reports circulating online as unsubstantiated, the police urged members of the public to rely only on official sources for updates on the situation.
Igboho had accused criminal elements of turning Igboho town into a centre for kidnapping activities and blamed some members of the Fulani community for harbouring those responsible.
“You can’t be kidnapping in my father’s land and expect me to keep quiet. I’m an original indigene of Igboho land.
“You kidnapped a pregnant woman, and the person who brought the ransom, you killed him and killed the pregnant woman, for what? In Igboho? You people are not even afraid of me in my father’s land?”
Igboho further alleged that those behind the abduction were known within the Fulani community and accused community leaders of failing to check criminal activities.
“You people kidnapped a pregnant woman, killed the person that brought the ransom and left one person. You are not even afraid of God. It’s your boys that did the job,” he said.
“Have they ever abducted Fulani?”
“No, it’s the Yorubas they have been kidnapping and it should not be like that. This should be the last, and let us stay in harmony.
“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.
Igboho also claimed that efforts to trace the kidnappers led to locations allegedly connected to prominent individuals within the community.
“When we first tracked that number, it led us to Alhaji’s residence and they removed them from there in the middle of the night to Bani’s compound. They took them to Baale’s compound, where they currently are.
“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 to pay. They started from N300 million and brought it down to N150 million.”
“Fulanis should contribute the ransom and get the woman, children and her sibling released. If they are killed, we will have a problem,“ Igboho said.
According to reports, the kidnappers initially demanded N300 million before reducing the amount to N150 million during negotiations.
