By Emeka Okafor
The Department of State Services has confirmed raiding the home of Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, in the early hours of Sunday in Ibadan, Oyo State.
It also confirmed that two persons were killed during the operation.
The secret police stated that the riad of the home of Sunday Igboho, whose real names is Sunday Adeyemo, followed intelligence report that the agitator was stockpiling arms.
Spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, disclosed this late Thursday evening during a press briefing in Abuja.
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Afunanya said the deceased were killed after a gun duel with its operatives while some security guards to the activist had been arrested.
Defending its action, DSS spokesman explained that its operatives carried out the raid after intelligence reports indicated that Sunday Igboho stockpiled weapons in his house.
He confirmed that the security service has launched a manhunt for Yoruba activist.
Afunanya said, “In the early hours (about 0134 hours) of today, 1st July, 2021, a joint team of security operatives raided the residence of Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho at Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State. This was based on intelligence that he had stockpiled arms in the place. On approach to the residence, the team came under heavy gun attack by nine (9) men, suspected to be IGBOHO’s guards. Six (6) of them were armed with AK-47 gun and Three (3) others, with Pump-Action riffles.
“In the course of the exchange, two (2) of Igboho’s armed men were gunned down while the rest were subdued and arrested. Only one operative who was shot by the assailants on his right hand sustained injury. He has however received medical attention and is very stable.
“Afterwards, the team procedurally searched the house and subsequently recovered the following among others: Seven (7) AK-47 assault rifles; Three (3) Pump Action guns; Thirty (30) fully charged AK-47 magazines; Five Thousand (5,000) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition; Five (5) Cutlasses, One (1) Jack knife, One (1) Pen Knife; Two (2) Pistol holsters; One (1) binoculars, Two (2) whistles; Fifty (50) Cartridges; Eighteen (18) Walkie-Talkies; Three Voodoo charm jackets/traditional body armour; Two (2) Laptops (One (1) Toshiba and One (1) Compaq); and His International Passport and those of many others (as displayed here). Further exploitation and forensic analysis are ongoing.
“Aside the items recovered from the building, about thirteen (13) suspects including twelve (12) males and one (1) female were arrested and brought to Abuja.”
“The gun duel which lasted for an hour offered Igboho the chance to escape. Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho is now on the run. Igboho may run as far as he can. He may hide as long as he wants. He might have attacked security operatives as his strength carried him. But this will be the end of his shenanigans. Soon, he will not have a hiding place. His strength will sure fail him. And the law will catch up with him. The law may be slow. But it will be steady.
“Consequently, Igboho is advised to turn himself in to the nearest security agency. 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. Meanwhile, those arrested will be charged accordingly,” the DSS spokesman added.
The activist had declared to hold Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos on Saturday but suspended the after his home was raided.
Sunday Igboho and other Yoruba self-determination propagators are seeking the creation of a Yoruba Republic from Nigeria.
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Sunday Igboho’s house invasion is coming two days after the Federal Government arrested and extradited leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to the country.
Kanu was reportedly arrested in Kenya after jumping bail since 2017 for crimes bordering on felony and others.
