Confusion has continued to surround the fate of victims abducted in Igbope, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, with both the local council authority and the Oyo State Police Command dismissing reports claiming the release of the victims.

The controversy followed the circulation of a viral video on social media showing residents celebrating the release of the victims alongside Sunday Adeyemo, popularly calle Sunday Igboho. 

The celebrations were widely interpreted as marking the release of a woman, her children and a sibling who were recently abducted by gunmen in the area.

The purported release was linked to a two-hour ultimatum issued by Igboho to suspected kidnappers and Fulani community leaders, demanding that the victims be freed.

However, the Chairman of Oorelope Local Government, Jacob Ogundiran, has described the reports as false and misleading. 

In a statement issued on Sunday, Ogundiran said the abducted victims remain in captivity and urged members of the public to disregard unverified information.

"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.

The council chairman assured residents that security agencies at both state and local levels were intensifying efforts to secure the safe rescue of the victims. 

He also commended community leaders, residents and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support in providing useful intelligence.

The Oyo State Police Command also refuted claims that the victims had been released. 

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that security operatives were still working to rescue the captives and dismissed suggestions that any successful rescue operation had taken place.

"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," Ayanlade said.

The victims were abducted during a midnight attack by armed men who invaded their residence and took away members of a family.

Reports indicated that the kidnappers initially demanded N300 million ransom before reducing the amount to N150 million.

The incident triggered widespread concern across the community, prompting Igboho to issue a stern warning to suspected Fulani leaders over rising cases of kidnapping and insecurity in the area. 

In a widely circulated video, he accused some members of the Fulani community of involvement in abductions and killings and demanded the immediate release of those still being held captive.