Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho has sparked mixed reactions after issuing a two-hour ultimatum to Fulani leaders in Igboho, Oyo, over alleged links to kidnapping activities in the area.
Igboho, who recently returned to Nigeria after a period of exile and a presidential pardon, reportedly confronted Fulani community leaders, accusing them of harbouring individuals allegedly connected to the abduction and killing of a woman following a reported ₦150 million ransom demand. Some members of the victim’s family were also said to have been abducted.
The activist warned that he would visit the homes of those he accused if his demands were not met, a move that has reignited conversations around insecurity, farmer-herder tensions, and rising kidnapping cases in parts of Oyo State.
Hours after the ultimatum, there were no immediate reports of clashes, arrests, or the release of victims. The development, however, generated heated reactions online, with some supporters praising Igboho for taking a stand against insecurity, while others criticised the approach as ethnic profiling and vigilantism.
Reacting to the development, some X(formally Twitter) users expressed support for Igboho’s action, arguing that victims of attacks rarely receive warnings from criminals.
@HFowest wrote: “This is the major problem I have with this man, you don’t need to give any warning before you act, baami Sunday Igboho. These people kill our people without giving any ultimatum.”
Others called for caution and proper investigations, stressing that criminals involved in kidnapping should not be identified solely by ethnicity.
@LsholaSodiq said: “This is a serious discussion that is very sensitive. Though it is understandable that the Fulanis are seen as the ones always behind banditry and kidnapping, we cannot totally say they are the only ones involved. We have seen different tribes and names of people involved in this terrible act that are not Fulanis.”
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Meanwhile, another user, @mikerajuk, questioned the targeting of community members, saying: “How and why are you threatening peaceful people living their normal lives? If they understand your language, it simply means they’ve stayed there for the longest. Channel your energy to the terrorists in the forest and leave people alone.”
@egtapare added: “Honestly, I think the Kabiyesi and the DPO know more than they are letting on. There’s a whole lot of underground stuff happening with kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria that the public has no idea about.”
The controversy has further highlighted the challenges facing communities battling insecurity and the debate over the role of non-state actors in responding to criminal activities.
