THE return of Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, to Nigeria has generated reactions among citizens.
Igboho returned to Nigeria to attend his mother’s funeral ceremony, according to a post by his spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, on ‘X’, on Thursday, February 22.
The agitator returned barely five months after the Beninese government freed him.
After his release, Igboho left Benin for Germany to reunite with his family, according to the leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), Banji Akintoye.
The ICIR reported that Igboho ran into trouble in March 2021 when he declared the Yoruba nation’s sovereignty, sparking criticisms from Nigerians.
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He alleged that much of Nigeria’s wealth was in the hands of northerners, stressing that Yorubas were being killed and their land taken over by herders.
He also launched a campaign to drive killer herders and kidnappers out of the South-West states.
However, he left Nigeria in July 2021 after operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) broke into his home in Ibadan at night.
At least one person died from the attack. The SSS arrested some of his aides and damaged some of his belongings.
During the raid, the SSS said it found seven AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, 5,000 rounds of ammunition, charms and other weapons in Igboho’s home.
The self-acclaimed agitator later attempted to flee Nigeria to Germany but was blocked and arrested at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The International Criminal Police Organisation detained him on Monday, July 19, 2021.
After many appeals to the Beninoise government from stakeholders in Nigeria, he regained his freedom on October 8, 2023.
With the Yoruba nation agitator returning home, several Nigerians have welcomed him, while some questioned the government on his freedom.
The ICIR observed in viral videos how some residents of Igboho in Oyo State celebrated and escorted the agitator to his mother’s burial.
Some Nigerians also stressed that the Federal Government should free Nnamdi Kanu if Sunday Igboho could be released.
Kanu leads the campaign for Biafra – an independent nation for Nigeria’s South-East region.
Sunday Igboho enemy of Nigeria’s Unity:The same Igboho that threatened to K!ll Tinubu and other Yoruba Oba’s returns to Nigeria
…..We told you this will happen under a Yoruba presidency, they are in solidarity with their own https://t.co/4d9zzaswLi pic.twitter.com/woP3IN9vBh
— For God And Country Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@TheShehus) February 23, 2024
If the report of el zakzaky and Sunday igboho returning to Nigeria on the same day today without any issue from Nigerian authorities is true, then there should be hope for MNk too under this Government.
Maybe for once Nigeria may experience true and sincere reconciliation. pic.twitter.com/3sMBfxFkiw
— Oluomo mko (@OluomoMko) February 22, 2024
Sunday Igboho just strolled in and none of our security forces arrested him too.
I hate how we fight crime in Nigeria, political optics, and desire over national interest.
Tired of this country abeg. https://t.co/tZeWhIuL8g
— Dele_ Castro (@Delehabeeb1) February 23, 2024
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M