OYO STATE, NIGERIA: Authorities in the Oyo State Police Command and local government officials confirmed at 4:30 pm WAT on Sunday, June 21, 2026, that hostages abducted from the community of Igbope remain in captivity following a two-hour ultimatum issued by a local activist.
Okay News reports that Oorelope Local Government Area Chairman Jacob Ogundiran issued a statement debunking viral videos circulated on June 20, 2026, which depicted residents celebrating the alleged release of the kidnapped family.
“The attention of the Oorelope Local Government Area leadership has been drawn to circulating rumours and unverified reports claiming the release of the kidnapping victims. We state authoritatively that these reports are false and misleading. The victims are still in captivity, and we urge the public to discountenance any information to the contrary unless it comes from credible sources,” Ogundiran said.
The spokesperson for the police command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that law enforcement officers are actively working to locate and free the captives.
“Whatever the activist is doing, if the said victims are still in captivity, I don’t know. Efforts are ongoing to rescue them. Meanwhile, the victims were not even kidnapped in Igboho. They were kidnapped at Igbope,” Ayanlade said.
The false reports of freedom followed the ultimatum issued by Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, commonly known as Sunday Igboho, demanding that suspected kidnappers and community leaders release a woman, her children, and a sibling.
The kidnappers initially demanded 300 million NGN (approximately 200,000 USD) before reducing the ransom to 150 million NGN (approximately 100,000 USD).
Addressing community representatives in a separate video, Adeyemo accused members of the local community of kidnapping residents and killing the individual who delivered the ransom money.
“The person who brought the ransom, you still killed him and spared only one person,” Adeyemo said.
“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.
