Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Residents of Igboho in Oyo State erupted in jubilation on Saturday, June 20, 2026, after a kidnapped family — including a pregnant woman, her children, and a sibling — were reportedly released following a two-hour ultimatum issued by Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho. A video circulating on social media showed large crowds of residents singing, dancing, and celebrating the return of the victims, though details surrounding the circumstances of their freedom remain unclear at the time of filing this report.
The release came after Igboho had earlier issued a stern warning to suspected Fulani community leaders in the area over rising cases of kidnapping and insecurity. In a viral video, Igboho was seen addressing community representatives and traditional leaders at the palace of the town's monarch, where he expressed anger over alleged killings and abductions in his hometown. He accused some members of the Fulani community of kidnapping residents and referenced incidents involving a pregnant woman and ransom negotiations that reportedly turned deadly.
According to Igboho, the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N300 million before reducing it to N150 million. However, he insisted that no ransom would be paid and demanded the immediate release of the victims. “The person who brought the ransom, you still killed him and spared only one person,” he said, while warning that such incidents must not repeat. He also claimed that those responsible for the abduction were known to members of the Fulani community.
Igboho issued the two-hour ultimatum for the release of the abducted victims, stressing that he had shown restraint following appeals from traditional rulers. “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. He further warned that failure to comply would trigger decisive action, including threats of entering suspected hideouts linked to the kidnappings. “I give you people two hours to release the woman, her children, and her sibling who were kidnapped in the middle of the night,” he said.
Addressing the Fulani leaders in Yoruba, Igboho expressed outrage over the incident and questioned the pattern of abductions in the area. “You can’t be kidnapping in my father’s land and expect me to keep quiet. I’m an original indigene of Igboho land,” he said. He also asked: “Since you have been kidnapping here, have they ever abducted Fulani? No, it’s the Yorubas they have been kidnapping and it should not be like that”.
Following the ultimatum, videos from the community showed jubilant residents celebrating what was described as the release of the abducted family. According to a resident who spoke to Starnews NG, all the abducted victims in the den of kidnappers were reportedly released by the alleged Fulani terrorists before the ultimatum elapsed. The swift resolution of the crisis led to widespread jubilation in Igboho town, with residents celebrating the safe return of their loved ones.
The development comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in Oyo State, particularly the continued captivity of 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026. The meeting was attended by the town’s traditional ruler, community chiefs, and officers from the divisional police command, while residents gathered outside the palace. Igboho also claimed that investigations had traced the victims’ whereabouts to several locations linked to prominent individuals within the community.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not issued an official statement confirming the release or the circumstances surrounding the victims' freedom. However, the jubilant scenes in Igboho have brought a measure of relief to a community that has grown weary of repeated abductions. For Sunday Igboho, the outcome has reinforced his standing as a defender of his people, even as questions linger over the long-term solution to the insecurity plaguing Oyo State’s rural communities.
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