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A family that was reportedly kidnapped in Igboho, Oyo State, has regained freedom after Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, issued a two-hour ultimatum demanding the release of abducted victims in the community.

The reported release sparked celebrations across the town, with residents taking to the streets to welcome the victims, who were said to include a pregnant woman, her children and a sibling.

A video circulating online captured residents singing and dancing as they celebrated the return of the family.

The development followed a warning earlier issued by Igboho to suspected Fulani leaders in the area over increasing incidents of kidnapping and insecurity.

In a viral video shared before the victims’ release, the activist addressed traditional rulers and community representatives, expressing outrage over alleged cases of abduction and killings in the community.

He alleged that some members of the Fulani community were involved in kidnappings and referred to incidents involving a pregnant woman and ransom payments that allegedly ended in tragedy.

“The person who brought the ransom, you still killed him and spared only one person,” he said, while warning that such incidents must not repeat.

Igboho also issued a two-hour ultimatum for the release of other abducted victims, stressing that he had shown restraint following appeals from traditional rulers.

“I am Sunday Igboho. I am calm because my fathers asked me to be calm with you. Let this be the last time such a thing will happen,” he said.

The activist further threatened to take action if the victims were not released, including moving into locations suspected to be connected to the kidnappings. (Text, excluding headline: Sunday Tribune)

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Voting has ended in many polling units across Ekiti State as sorting and counting of ballots commence in the governorship election.

Residents turned out in large numbers on Saturday to cast their votes for their preferred candidates in the poll conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the state’s 16 local government areas.

Many voters arrived at their polling units as early as 7:00 a.m., although voting did not commence until about 8:30 a.m. in most locations.

Security personnel were deployed to various polling units to maintain law and order, while election observers monitored the process across the state.

The major contenders in the election were also seen casting their votes and commenting on the conduct of the poll.

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dare Bejide, voted at the Oke Adura Polling Unit in Ekiti South West Local Government Area. He commended the voter turnout but alleged that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were engaging in vote-buying at his polling unit.

According to Bejide, APC members were distributing money to voters, an allegation he said he reported to security personnel.

However, the APC candidate and incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, dismissed the allegation after casting his vote at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area.

Speaking to journalists, Oyebanji said anyone making such allegations should provide evidence to substantiate their claims. The governor, who voted alongside his wife, Olayemi, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and urged eligible voters who had yet to vote to do so peacefully.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Wole Oluyede, also cast his vote at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area.

Oluyede, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election, alleging that many voters at his polling unit were unable to vote due to challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

He also alleged voter harassment and intimidation in the ward but maintained confidence that he would emerge victorious in the election.

Despite the complaints raised by some of the candidates, no major security incident had been reported as of the time of filing this report, with sorting and counting ongoing in many polling units.

A total of 1.02 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election across 2,445 polling units. Oyebanji is seeking re-election against candidates from 13 other political parties.

Other contestants in the election include Akande Oluwasegun Samuel (AAC), Opeyemi Falegan (Accord), Ayodeji Ojo (ADP), Bidemi Olaiya Awogbemi (APP), Oyebanji Ikusayedegbe Olajuyin (Labour Party), Abegunde Ayobami Blessing (NNPP), Olaniyi Olanrewaju Ayodele (PRP), Owoola Daramola (YPP), and Victor Damilola Adetunji (ZLP).

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President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a new Boeing 747-8 jet for Air Force One that the Qatari government donated last year as an “unconditional” gift to the US.

The US military first carried out modifications to the luxury jumbo jet, which is valued at an estimated $400m (£300m).

“This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody’s ever seen before. The jet will lead a flyover “the likes of which we’ve never seen before,” Trump said in a speech at Joint Base Andrews on Friday.

The US Air Force said in a press release that the jet will begin initial commissioning flights – a “final exam” to test out the aircraft’s modifications – before it will be used to transport the president.

Modifications to the jet included upgrades in security, mission communications, logistics support, and advanced technology, the Air Force said. Any potential threats from the previously owned aircraft have been “neutralised”, it added.