Hours After Ultimatum, Igboho Victims Still in Captivity as Hunters Prepare Forest Search

Reports that a family abducted by kidnappers in Igboho, Oyo State, regained freedom following a two-hour ultimatum issued by Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, have been disputed by sources in the community.

A resident who spoke with *The National Periscope* on condition of anonymity said the victims remained in captivity as of Sunday morning, contrary to claims circulating on social media that they had been released.

According to the source, no breakthrough had been recorded despite the ultimatum issued by Igboho to Fulani leaders in the area over the growing wave of kidnappings.

“It’s not true, they never regained freedom,” the source said.

He explained that while Igboho had remained active in the town since Saturday, meeting stakeholders and mounting pressure on community leaders, the abductors were yet to release the victims.

“Though he is on ground in Igboho town, moving from one place to another threatening the Fulani leaders, it has not yielded any positive outcome, but we are hopeful,” the source added.

The latest development comes less than 24 hours after reports emerged online that a pregnant woman, her children and a sibling had regained freedom shortly after Igboho issued a two-hour deadline to suspected kidnappers to release all abductees.

Videos shared on social media showed residents celebrating, prompting widespread claims that the victims had been freed.

However, sources within the community insist that the reports were false and that efforts are now shifting towards a coordinated search operation.

According to the source, local hunters and members of the Iru Ekun security outfit have concluded plans to comb forests stretching from Igboho to Bode Saadu in neighbouring Kwara State in search of the victims.

He disclosed that intelligence gathered by local security operatives indicated that the abducted family may have been moved to Banni, a settlement located within the forest corridor linking parts of Oyo and Kwara states.

“The community plan this morning is that the local hunters with Iru Ekun security will comb the forest from Igboho down to Bode Saadu. Those kidnapped victims were tracked to Banni. If not for the early morning shower, everything is set,” he said.

The search operation is expected to involve local vigilantes, hunters and other community-based security groups familiar with the terrain.

On Saturday, Igboho had summoned Fulani leaders and traditional representatives to a meeting at the palace of the Alepata of Igboho, where he condemned recent cases of kidnapping and killings in the area.

During the meeting, he accused criminal elements of targeting residents and recounted the killing of a pregnant woman and another individual who reportedly delivered ransom to abductors.

He subsequently issued a two-hour ultimatum for the release of all kidnapped persons, warning that stronger measures would follow if the victims were not freed.

As tension persists in the community, residents say they remain hopeful that the planned forest operation will lead to the safe rescue of those still being held by their captors.