Oyo school kidnap: Troops block escape routes as terrorists reduce demands

The Police, reacting to viral reports and videos circulating on social media, said there was no official confirmation that the victims had been rescued, insisting there was no evidence linking Igboho to any rescue operation.

The development followed a warning by the activist, who accused criminal elements of turning Igboho into a kidnapping hub and threatened to personally confront those behind the abductions if the victims were not released within two hours.

Shortly after the ultimatum, reports emerged that the abducted victims, including a pregnant woman, her children and a sibling, had regained their freedom, triggering celebrations across the ancient town.

Residents were seen in viral videos singing, dancing and rejoicing as crowds trooped onto the streets to welcome the victims after days of anxiety over their whereabouts.

The abduction had sparked outrage in the community after gunmen reportedly kidnapped members of a family during a midnight attack and subsequently demanded huge sums as ransom.

Reports indicated that the kidnappers initially demanded N300 million before reducing the ransom to N150 million during negotiations.

Addressing Fulani leaders and traditional representatives in a viral video, Igboho said: “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?

“This should be the last, and it must end. My father has urged me to address you people patiently. What I’m fighting in other people’s land, you can’t come here and be doing it in my father’s land.”

Police fault Igboho’s claims

Reacting to reports linking the release of the victims to Sunday Igboho’s intervention, Oyo State police command maintained that there was no evidence connecting the activist to any rescue operation.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, in a statement, said: “The Nigeria Police Force has officially debunked claims that the hostages have been safely released. Oyo State Commissioner of Police has explicitly denied that Sunday Igboho was involved in recent rescue operations.”

The command’s spokesperson further described reports circulating online as “unsubstantiated” and urged members of the public to rely on official channels for information.

The police also stressed that they had no evidence of Igboho’s participation in any successful rescue effort, even as reports of the victims’ alleged release continued to generate reactions across the state.