A group, South West Concerned Citizens, SWCC, has raised doubts over reports that a kidnapped family, including a pregnant woman and her children, was released in Igboho town, Oyo State, after a two-hour ultimatum by Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

The group said it would welcome the release if true, but warned against using citizens’ safety for publicity or personal gain.

SWCC spokesman, Foluso Aderibigbe, said the group has reservations because Igboho has not been involved in rescuing other kidnap victims in the South West.

“We are aware that Igboho has been lobbying the Federal government to give him approval to recruit 50,000 men to confront the bandits,” Aderibigbe said in Abuja.

“Some people have questioned Igboho’s capacity to manage a security outfit since he is a novice in security matters.”

He referenced recent comments by security expert Dr. Jackson Ojo, who advised the Federal Government to reject Igboho’s request to raise a 50,000-man force.

“We read what a seasoned security expert, Dr Jackson Ojo, said about Igboho’s request and gave very sound reasons why the Federal government should throw his request into the trash can,” he said.

Aderibigbe questioned why Igboho did not intervene in other abduction cases in the same state.

“Why didn’t Sunday Igboho mobilise to free those kidnapped toddlers and teachers in the same Oyo state?”

He suggested the reported release may have been timed to counter criticism of Igboho’s capacity.

“Is it possible that the purported release of the alleged kidnapped people in Adeyemo’s village was stage-managed to disprove what Dr Jackson Ojo said about Igboho’s lack of capacity to curtail banditry in South West?” he added.

The SWCC spokesman cautioned that insecurity should not be monetised or politicised.

“The safety of the citizens should not become an opportunity for some people to enrich themselves at the detriment of the people,”‘ he warned.