Youths in their numbers stormed Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday to protests against the arrest of self-acclaimed activist, Sunday Adeyemo popularly called Sunday Igboho.
Igboho was arrested by the authorities of Benin Republic on Monday night.
The protest started from the front of Ighobo’s house in Soka, Ibadan that was raided in the early hours of July 1, 2021, by the Department of State Security (DSS) over allegation of stockpiling arms and ammunition to destabilise Nigeria on the pretext of fighting for freedom for his people.
Protesting on Wednesday, youths thronged Soka roads, streets in Sanyo, Felele, to Challenge area, and to the Music House, housing the Fresh FM owned by popular gospel music artiste, Yinka Ayefele, on Lagos bypass of Challenge, before they returned to their take-off point.
The inscriptions on their placards read: ‘Free Ighobo now.’ ‘I stand with Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho Oosa’, ‘Chief Sunday is fighting for freedom. No going back. Chief Sunday is fighting for freedom,’ Alaanu Talika, kinni Sunday she? E beru Olorun. Idajo yin de tan. E fi Ighobo sile!!! ‘Igboho is not a criminal, I stand with Igboho.’ But the shout of ‘Igboho Oosa rented the atmosphere as they thronged Ibadan streets.
Some of the protesters, who spoke to journalists, include Oyedokun Abiodun, fondly called Aworo; David Ajulo; Azeez Sullaiman; Alhaji Yusuf Ajikobi; and Atakoro Omo Yerepe, as well as those that did not want their names mentioned in print.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, David Ajulo said: “I am appealing to Yoruba monarchs. They should rise up in defence of Igboho. It should be known that many people in Yorubaland have suffered a lot in the hands of criminal herdsmen. They have raped, killed, kidnapped, took ransom and destroyed farmlands.
“So, many people are grieving in Yorubaland. Nobody came to their rescue, even the Federal Government and security agencies did not come to assist the Yoruba being terrorised by criminal herdsmen.
“If you have the record, you can challenge me the number of criminal herdsmen that have been arrested, prosecuted, and jailed for committing those crimes mentioned. Based on the fact that the Federal Government is not tackling the menace, the criminal herdsmen still live in Yorubaland and they continued to commit the atrocities.
“Igboho rose in defence of his people, it is now that the Federal Government has risen against him. This is not right. The Federal Government should make correction.”
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