Sunday Igboho’s lawyer confirms arrest of Yoruba Nation activist in Benin Republic

Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has been arrested by security operatives in Cotonou, the Benin Republic capital, as he was enroute to Germany via the West African nation, Monday night.

It is also reported that the Nigerian government now plans to repatriate the activist back to the country to face charges of stockpiling arms and ammunition leveled against him after the Department of State Security (DSS) had stormed his house at Soka, in Ibadan Oyo State, three weeks ago and allegedly found weapons at his home.

The DSS raid left two of Igboho’s associates dead, with 13 others still in its custody till date.

Igboho has since, however, denied that the weapons found by the DSS operatives inside his house belonged to him, as he further claimed that they were planted by the security agents who had stormed his house at past midnight during the raid.

The Yoruba Nation agitator has been on the run since the raid, and even failed to show up at the Mega Rally convened by the group at the Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, Saturday, July 3.

Consequently, the DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya had advised Igboho to turn himself in.

“Those cheering and eulogising him may appeal to or advise him to do the needful. He should surrender himself to the appropriate authorities. He or anyone can never be above the law.”

However, confirming the development, one of the activist’s lawyers, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, said instead that his client surrendered himself and was not captured by the security operatives.

Reacting to his arrest Tuesday morning, Olajengbesi said: “Truly he was arrested and I have confirmed that. We are making efforts to ensure that he is fine.

“You know the Department of State Services declared him wanted. We just believe that Sunday Igboho is not the problem. He is someone who believed that the Yoruba people and Nigerians generally should live in peace wherever they are.

“As a matter of fact, let me tell you now. That Sunday Igboho was arrested simply because he wanted to make himself available to the government. If not, Sunday Igboho is not someone who can be arrested that way. But because he believes that the journey to justice for the Yoruba people and for the Nigerian state to be able to live in peace may be needed for him to be available, that was why.”

The DSS Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunnaya, had advised Igboho to turn himself in to the nearest security.

Reacting to development, Tuesday, former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonahan,  Reno Omokri condemned the reported arrest of the Yoruba activist.

Reno in a post on his official Facebook page, said Nigerians would gather resources to defend the Oduduwa Republic agitator.

“The reported arrest of Sunday Igboho in Cotonou is unfortunate. He is a hero freedom fighter who defended us.

“We must now repay his good turn and also defend him and gather resources for his legal defence. Igboho deserves the same commitment from us that Buhari has shown and continues to show to killer herdsmen and bandits.

“Buhari has refused to categorise his kinsmen, who shot down a multimillion dollar Nigerian Airforce jet yesterday, as terrorists (they lied that the jet did not crash, but the pilot survived and blew open their lies).

“Yet, he has criminalised one of the few Nigerians brave enough to stand up to killer herdsmen. And that is why I stand with Igboho. Not for secession. But for defending his people”.