Police Debunk Viral Report On Rescue Of Igbope Kidnap Victims, Intensify Search Efforts

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The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media that the victims abducted at Igbope on June 16, 2026, Mrs. Kuburat Omowumi and her son, have been rescued.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, described a viral video and related online posts claiming the victims had regained their freedom as misleading and without factual basis.

“The Command wishes to state unequivocally that the claim contained in the circulated video is false, unfounded and misleading,” the statement said.

The police clarified that despite widespread circulation of the report, the abducted mother and child remain in captivity, while security agencies continue efforts to secure their safe release.

According to the Command, intensive operational and intelligence-driven efforts are ongoing in collaboration with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.

“Since the incident was reported, the Command has sustained and intensified operational and intelligence-driven efforts in collaboration with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders towards securing the safe rescue of the abducted victims and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice,” the statement added.

The Command warned that the spread of unverified information at a sensitive stage of the operation could hamper rescue efforts and create unnecessary confusion among members of the public.

“The circulation of unverified information at this critical period is capable of creating false narratives, generating unnecessary confusion and undermining ongoing rescue efforts,” the police stated.

The Command appealed to members of the public with credible information regarding the incident to assist security agencies in their ongoing investigation and rescue operations.

It also urged residents to verify information before sharing it and to rely only on official communication channels for updates on the case.

“Members of the public are further advised to rely only on official communication channels for updates and to verify the authenticity of any content before sharing in order to prevent the spread of misinformation,” the statement noted.

Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the Oyo State Police Command assured residents that all available resources were being deployed to ensure the safe rescue of Mrs. Omowumi and her son, as well as the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

The Command further called for continued public support and cooperation as efforts to secure the victims’ freedom continue.