Police, Local Government Disclaim Viral Video Alleging Rescue of Kidnapped Victims in Oyo State

The Oyo State Police Command and the leadership of Oorelope Local Government Area have rejected widely circulated social media claims that an abducted woman and her son have been freed.

The responses follow a viral video from Saturday showing crowds celebrating alongside Yoruba nationalist activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho. Online commentary associated the footage with the successful release of Mrs. Kuburat Omowumi and her son, who were kidnapped during a midnight raid in the Igbope area on June 16, 2026. The posts alleged the captives were freed following a strict two-hour ultimatum issued by Igboho to regional leaders and suspected network groups.

In an official statement issued on Sunday, State Police Public Relations Officer Olayinka Ayanlade labeled the claims in the video completely false, unfounded, and misleading. The command emphasized that distributing unverified rumors during an active kidnapping case threatens to compromise delicate intelligence operations and creates unnecessary panic. The police stated that joint search teams, comprising multiple security agencies and local stakeholders, are still actively working to secure the safe rescue of the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Oorelope Local Government Chairman Jacob Ogundiran also issued a directive dismissing the reports, confirming that the mother and son remain in captivity. Ogundiran advised the public to disregard any unofficial status updates regarding the abduction and praised local residents for continuing to funnel credible intelligence to formal security channels.

The family members were taken by armed men who initial reports indicate demanded a ₦300 million ransom, a figure later dropped to ₦150 million. Prior to the rumors of a rescue, Igboho had publicly expressed frustration during a meeting with community representatives over rising security challenges in the zone, warning of decisive action if the recurring threats against residents did not cease.

Security authorities have urged the public to rely strictly on official government channels for verified updates to avoid disrupting ongoing operations.