By Segun Amure
Chaos erupted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday as a joint team of policemen, officers of the Department of State Services and soldiers attempted to arrest O’odua activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho.
Igboho, in a video that surfaced online, was seen topless, with scores of youths daring the security operatives numbering about 40 to “do their worst.”
The operatives later drove off after the youths physically expressed outrage on the expressway, leading to a somewhat show of force.
I just spoke to my brother Sunday Igboho. He told me there was a violent attempt to arrest him this afternoon by a joint team of soldiers, DSS operatives & policemen numbering about 40 on the Ibadan/Lagos Expressway whilst he was on his way to see Baba Ayo Adebanjo in Lagos. 1/ pic.twitter.com/tjyuKH58Bv
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) February 26, 2021
While the face-off lasted, there was confusion along expressway as vehicular movement was halted.
Affirming the incident, Chief Femi Fani Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, stated that there was an attempt to arrest the O’odua activist on his way to meet with 93-year-old Afenifere Chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo.
Fani-Kayode submitted that the attempt to ambush Igboho was not only reckless but dangerous.
The former Minister tweeted: “I just spoke to my brother Sunday Igboho. He told me there was a violent attempt to arrest him this afternoon by a joint team of soldiers, DSS operatives and policemen numbering about 40 on the Ibadan/Lagos Expressway whilst he was on his way to see Baba Ayo Adebanjo in Lagos.
“I condemn this attempt to ambush and abduct him. It is not only reckless but also very dangerous. If the security agencies want to see him all they need to do is to invite him to their office. I am not aware of any crime that he has committed and I urge restraint on all sides.
“Let me also send a warning to the Federal Government that Sunday Igboho is a hero to millions of Yoruba and either killing him or detaining him unlawfully would be the biggest mistake they could make. Building bridges, dialogue and the pursuit of peace is better than intimidation, threats, violence and war. A word is enough for the wise.”
Igboho has been in the news since he gave 7 days ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen in Ibarapa area of Oyo state to vacate the community as he later followed through on the order.
Following Igboho’s dare-devil display in Ibarapa, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu reportedly issued an order for his arrest, but it appears that directive has become a tall order at the moment.
