Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has opened up again on the July 1, 2021 midnight invasion of his Ibadan residence by security operatives, including the Department of State Services (DSS).

Speaking during a visit to the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, at his palace in Ondo State, Igboho alleged that the attack was carried out with the intent to take his life.

“When my house was invaded, they wanted to kill me but failed. Some said my intestines were shattered, others said my leg was broken, but there was nothing of such. They fired guns at me very well, but the prayers of you my fathers on me were answered.”

According to him, the DSS operatives forcefully gained entrance into his residence and pointed a gun at his Personal Assistant so he could lead them to his room.

Death of cat after friend’s betrayal

While recalling the invasion, Igboho said one of his trusted friends betrayed him by leaking sensitive information about his cat to the operatives.

He disclosed that the so-called ‘trusted’ friend had told the agents not to let the cat escape, which led to the security operatives killing the animal.

“When I opened the door of my room for them, they saw my cat on the bed. One of my friends that I entrusted with secret had told them not to let the cat go. So they killed the cat and wrapped it with clothes like a corpse. They destroyed everywhere in the house and killed one of my brothers alongside one other person and they left,” he narrated.

Nationwide outrage trailed invasion

The raid, which led to the death of two people and the destruction of property, was met with outrage by citizens across Nigeria.

Prominent voices including Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, faulted the Federal Government and described the invasion as unjustifiable.

Soyinka had insisted that Igboho deserved an unreserved apology from the authorities, while rights groups and socio-political leaders described the attack as a misuse of state power.

Also reacting to the development, legal luminary and Founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, in an article in Nigerian Tribune, had described the invasion of Igboho’s residence as unconstitutional.

“Undoubtedly, the manner with which the joint security operatives carried out the raid on Sunday Igboho’s residence calls to question its legality. Without prejudice to the fact that I do not endorse agitation for the breakup of Nigeria, the fact remains that Sunday Igboho is a citizen of Nigeria and therefore enjoys certain fundamental rights enshrined in our constitution,”excerpts from Afe Babalola’s article published in the Nigerian Tribune newspaper.

Arrest and detention in Cotonou

Following the raid, Igboho fled the country and was declared wanted by the Nigerian government. He was later arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while attempting to travel to Germany.

His detention sparked international attention, with supporters at home and abroad launching campaigns for his release.

He eventually spent about two years in Benin Republic custody, during which he suffered personal loss as his mother passed away.

“My mother called me when I was in prison in Cotonou after spending about two years there and said, I told her that if Tinubu became the president I would be freed. I said yes. She said he has been the president for about two months, and you are still not free. She then asked if I knew anyone who could influence my release. I said I don’t. She said if she goes and prays to God for my release, I will be free. I said yes. She said she would go to God. Unfortunately, she died the following day,” he recalled during the visit to Olowo of Owo.

According to him, not long after her (mother) death, the Benin Republic President ordered his release, allowing him to reunite with his family in Germany.

Struggles with passport

Igboho explained that the Nigerian government refused to release his passport, leaving him unable to return home directly from Germany.

He, however, revealed that German authorities, through one of their ministers, later issued him a protection passport which has since allowed him to travel, but it does not confer the rights of a full national passport.

“He said he would give me a passport that belongs to Germany. That wherever I go, if anything happens, they won’t do anything to me but instead bring me back to Germany, and he gave me that passport. That is the passport I’ve been using to travel,” he said.

Despite that, he admitted the arrangement was not sustainable, stressing that his wish was to return to Nigeria.

Appeal to the Olowo

Speaking at the palace of the Olowo, Igboho said his absence from the country had lasted about five years and that he was eager to return to contribute to tackling insecurity in the South-West.

“But why I came to meet you Kabiyesi is that till when will I be doing that. Nigeria is my motherland. This is about five years since I’ve been chased from here. Tinubu is your son, you can convince him to free me. If not for the wanted tag on me, I would have come to Nigeria to face the insecurity facing the South-West region. I would have entered the bush and faced them,” Igboho pleaded with the monarch.

Monarch’s response

In his response, Oba Ogunoye described Igboho as a beacon of hope for his generation and future ones, urging him not to be discouraged by the challenges he has faced.

The monarch enjoined Igboho and his supporters to remain law-abiding amid ongoing challenges.

He assured him of continued support and called for peace and cooperation across South-West communities, noting that no region can achieve sustainable development without security. (Nigerian Tribune)