JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Saturday threatened to take action against the Fulani community in Igboho town, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, if the kidnapped townspeople are not immediately released.
He also alerted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the city to ensure he was not involved in any kidnappings carried out in the city.
Igboho in a video that earlier went viral on social media, issued a two-hour ultimatum for the release of the kidnap victims during a meeting with Fulani leaders and security operatives at the palace of Alepata Igboholand, Oba Joel Olawuwo.
This is in accordance with a statement by the Oyo State Police Command which has commenced investigations into the threat.
The activist, who spoke in Yoruba, warned that failure to ensure the release of victims within the stipulated time period could lead to unrest.
He accused some members of the Fulani community of being behind a series of kidnappings in the area, including the abduction of a pregnant woman, her sister and a child, a few days ago.
Igboho claimed that the kidnappers had previously kidnapped and killed a pregnant woman along with people who paid ransom to secure her release.
“You are not allowed to kidnap people in our land. You kidnapped a pregnant woman, demanded ransom money and killed the person who brought the ransom money. In my homeland! You are not even afraid of me. Let this be the last and final.
“My name is Sunday Igboho and I am not for anyone; I am for all Igboho indigenes. I cannot fight for other communities while you guys are committing the same crimes in my own town. We are not coming to your town to fight you.
“The elders of Igboho town have asked me to be patient with you at this time, but keep your orders. Since they started kidnapping people here, they have never kidnapped a Fulani man. It is your children who are committing this crime,” he said.
Delivering the ultimatum, Igboho said, “Tell your people that I am giving them a two hour ultimatum to produce the woman, her sister and the child they kidnapped. If you do not produce them within two hours, there will be a crisis. I don’t care where they will take them, but I am speaking here on behalf of all the Igboho indigenes and elders that you must produce them within two hours.”
He alleged that those responsible for the kidnapping were people known within the community and claimed that the victims were being held at a location in Baani, a settlement in the area.
“This is enough. I give you two hours to call your people and bring those detained. We have traced the number of kidnappers and found out that they are holding the victims in the Baale compound in Baani. Call and tell them to bring the victims here now or I will come there in the forest reserve to throw them out,” he said.
Igboho further claimed that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N300m before reducing it to N150m.
He urged Fulani leaders in the city to mobilize efforts to ensure the freedom of the victims, and warned that the community would be held responsible if anything happened to them.
“We have no ransom money to give you. They started asking for N300 million and reduced it to N150 million. All Fulani people in this city must contribute the money and guarantee the release of the victims. If they kill them in captivity, you are all in trouble,” he warned.
The activist also alerted Divisional Police Officers in the area against the alleged involvement of criminal elements.
Coming face to face with the officers, Igboho said, “DPO, I want you to be careful. This is our homeland and you cannot destroy it for us. You are from Ogbomoso; be careful. If the Fulani give you money and you support them, you are collecting blood money.”
He also accused some Igboho indigenes of being informers of the kidnappers, and threatened that he would personally kill anyone who conspired with the criminals.
“Some of our children also collaborate with the kidnappers. If I catch one of them, I will kill that person myself,” he threatened while using his hands to show how the person would be killed.
Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command had obtained the viral video and was reviewing it as part of ongoing investigations.
“We have obtained the video and we are processing it for investigation,” he said briefly.
