Igboho: Controversy Trails Activist’s Arrest

By James Orji

More facts have emerged on how Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic on Monday.

The activist was said to have been captured while trying to escape from the country. The DSS had declared him wanted since July I after his Ibadan, Oyo state home was attacked by the secret police. Some of his men were killed, while those captured alive have been charged to court.

Before he was arrested on Monday, some reports claimed that the activist was planning to leave the country by securing new travel documents.

But contrary to reports that he was captured by Beninois officials working alongside Interpol and Nigeria’s security operatives, one of his counsel, Pelumi Olajemgbesi said the activist voluntarily handed himself over.

Olajemgbesi told SaharaReporters on Tuesday morning, that it would have been very difficult to capture Igboho if he was not willing to do so.

He said, “Truly he was arrested and I have confirmed that. We are making efforts to ensure that he is fine. You know the Department of State Services declared him wanted.

“We just believe that Sunday Igboho is not the problem. He is someone who believed that the Yoruba people and Nigerians generally should live in peace wherever they are.

“As a matter of fact, let me tell you now. That Sunday Igboho was arrested simply because he wanted to make himself available to the government. If not, Sunday Igboho is not someone who can be arrested that way.

“But because he believes that the journey to justice for the Yoruba people and for the Nigerian state to be able to live in peace may be needed for him to be available, that was why.”

The counsel explained that Igboho was arrested while trying to travel to Germany from Benin Republic and plan was afoot to repatriate him back to Nigeria.

According to him “He was supposed to travel to Germany through Cotonou this night. He wanted to leave Africa through Cotonou. He was arrested by security operatives in Cotonou. They are planning to bring him back to Nigeria.”