The Oyo State Police ComOyo Police Disown Viral Claims Linking Igboho to Alleged Rescue of Kidnap mand has dismissed widespread social media claims suggesting that Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, facilitated the release of abducted victims in Igboho community, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the reports as unverified and misleading.
The Command also clarified that there is no official confirmation that the kidnapped family—reportedly abducted during a midnight raid by armed men—has been rescued, warning that circulating narratives should not be regarded as authoritative.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said neither the Commissioner of Police nor the Oyo State Police Command had confirmed any rescue operation involving Igboho or any non-state actor.
He stressed that due verification processes were still ongoing regarding the incident, adding that only officially validated information should be relied upon in matters of security.
“The Nigeria Police Force has not confirmed the alleged release of the abducted victims as being circulated on social media,” the Command stated, urging members of the public to disregard misinformation capable of inciting panic or distorting ongoing security efforts.
The clarification comes amid heightened public excitement triggered by viral claims that a woman, her children, and a relative abducted during the attack were freed shortly after Sunday Igboho issued a two-hour ultimatum to suspected abductors.
In widely circulated videos, Sunday Adeyemo was seen condemning the rising wave of kidnappings in the region and issuing stern warnings to criminal elements, a development that fuelled speculation online that his intervention influenced the alleged release.
However, the police maintained that such claims were not supported by operational facts, warning against attributing unverified outcomes to individuals or groups outside official security structures.
According to earlier reports, armed men had invaded the community at night, abducted members of a family, and demanded a ransom initially put at about N300 million before allegedly reducing it to N150 million during negotiations.
The situation reportedly heightened tension in the area, with conflicting accounts also suggesting that a pregnant woman and a ransom courier may have been killed during the attack. Authorities, however, said these claims remain unconfirmed.
Public reaction intensified after unverified online posts suggested the captives had regained freedom, sparking celebrations and emotional responses from residents before security agencies moved to clarify the situation.
The Command reiterated that only information verified by the police should be considered credible, warning that the spread of false reports could undermine ongoing investigations and security operations.
As of press time, uncertainty still surrounds the fate of the abducted family, as security agencies continue efforts to establish verified facts amid competing narratives from community sources and social media platforms.
The Oyo State Police Command and the Nigeria Police Force urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and cooperate with security operatives working to resolve the case.
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