The Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) says its operatives carried out a raid on the house of separatist agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria following intelligence that he was stockpiling arms.
There were reports early Thursday, July 1, 2021 that Igboho’s residence at Soka area in Ibadan was attacked by DSS operatives.
But in a press statement Thursday evening by Peter Afunanya, the Public Relations Officer of the DSS at the national headquarters, Abuja, the secret police confirmed that a joint team of security operatives raided the residence of Igboho.
Afunanya explained that the team was however attacked by nine men suspected to be Igboho’s guard.
“Six of them were armed with AK-47 guns and three others, with Pump-Action rifles,” he said, adding that two of the guards were killed during gunfire exchange while one operative sustained a gunshot wound.
At the operation which led to the arrest of 13 persons including a woman, one of which he said is being profiled, the DSS spokesperson also listed items recovered from Igboho’s house.
“Afterwards, the team procedurally searched the house and subsequently recovered the following among others: Seven AK-47 assault rifles, three Pump Action guns, 30 fully charged AK-47 magazines, 5,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition,” he said.
“Others are five cutlasses, one Jack knife, one Pen Knife, two Pistol holsters, one binocular, a wallet containing five US Dollars in one Dollar denomination, local and international driver’s license in his name, ATM Cards, a German residence permit No. YO2N6K1NY bearing his name.”
“Two whistles, 50 Cartridges, 18 Walkie-Talkies, three Voodoo charm jackets/traditional body armour, two laptops: one Toshiba and one Compaq and his International Passport and those of many others.”
Further exploration and forensic analysis are ongoing, he said.
Afunanya said the debrief was to inform Nigerians and the world that Sunday Igboho and his group, in the guise of campaign for self-determination, have become well-armed and determined to undermine public order.
“This, the arrests and seizures are, no doubt, a confirmation of a grand plan by Igboho and his cohorts to wage a violent insurrection against the Nigerian State,” he said.
Foreign missions and licencing authorities within and outside Nigeria, according to him, were being alerted about the development and the possibility that Igboho could declare some of his personal permit and identity cards missing to seek replacement.
He added that the five AK-47 assault rifles recovered from the building are suspected to be those collected by Igboho’s men from Nigerian Customs and Immigration personnel at Idi Iroko, Ogun State.
While noting that the gun duel which lasted for an hour allowed him to escape, Afunaya said “He should surrender himself to the appropriate authorities.”
“He or anyone can never be above the law. Meanwhile, those arrested will be charged accordingly.”
Igboho’s call for self determination
Sunday Adeyemo Igboho, hitherto unknown to many, gained prominence in the media when he started calling for the creation of the Yoruba nation.
He had appeared in several videos to announce his readiness to lead others to demand Oodua nation. Recently, in the wake of attacks on communities in Oke-ogun area of Oyo State by suspected criminal herders, he led his fighters to Igangan where communities hosting Fulani herders were attacked.
He also did the same thing in Ogun State.
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