Chairman of Oorelope Local Government un Oyo State, Jacob Ogundiran, and police in the state have tackled activist Sunday Igboho over a claim that he has helped rescued some kidnapped residents.
According to them, the said victims are still in captivity.
Ogundiran, in a statement on Sunday, said, “The attention of the Oorelope Local Government Area leadership has been drawn to circulating rumours and unverified reports claiming the release of the kidnapping victims.
“We state authoritatively that these reports are false and misleading. The victims are still in captivity, and we urge the public to discountenance any information to the contrary unless it comes from credible sources,” the statement read.
Ogundiran assured that security agencies at state and local levels are intensifying efforts to secure the victims’ safe rescue, while commending community leaders, residents, and stakeholders for providing intelligence and support. He emphasised that the protection of lives and property remains a top priority.
The spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, also debunked claims that the hostages had been released or that Igboho played any role in their rescue.
“Whatever the activist is doing, if the said victims are still in captivity, I don’t know. Efforts are ongoing to rescue them.
“Meanwhile, the victims were not even kidnapped in Igboho. They were kidnapped at Igbope,” he was quoted as saying.
