The Department of State Services has said the secret service coordinated the invasion of the Ibadan, Oyo State home of Yoruba cultural activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, in the early hours of Thursday. The spokesman of the Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, made this known on Thursday when those arrested in the house and items recovered were paraded. Afunanya, who confirmed the death of two persons, said it occurred because operatives involved in the joint operation were fired at by those in Igboho’s house. He said the exchange of gunfire lasted for about one hour, during which Igboho reportedly escaped from the house. He said: “In the early hours (about 0134 hours) of today, 1st July, 2021, a joint team of security operatives raided the residence of Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo aka SUNDAY IGBOHO, at Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“This was based on intelligence that he had stockpiled arms in the place.
“On approach to the residence, the team came under heavy gun attack by nine men, suspected to be IGBOHO’s guards.
“Six of them were armed with AK-47 guns and three others with Pump-Action riffles.
“In the course of the exchange, two of IGBOHO’s armed men were gunned down while the rest were subdued and arrested.
“Only one operative who was shot by the assailants on his right hand sustained injury.
“He has however received medical attention and is very stable.”
Afunanya said after the gun exchange subsided, the team procedurally searched the house.
He said recovered among others were seven AK-47 assault rifles; three Pump Action guns; 30 fully charged AK-47 magazines; 5,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition; five cutlasses; one Jack knife; one Pen knife; two pistol holsters; and one binoculars.
Also recovered were a wallet containing $5 in $1 denomination; local and international driver’s licences in Igboho’s name; ATM Cards; a German residence permit, No. YO2N6K1NY, bearing Igboho’s name; two whistles; five cartridges; 18 Walkie-Talkies; three voodoo charm jackets/traditional body armour; two laptops: one Toshiba and one Compaq; and Igboho’s International Passport and those of many others.
Afunanya confirmed the arrest of 13 persons, made up of one female and 12 males.
The suspects, 12 of who were paraded, were Abdulateef OFEYAGBE, Amoda BABATUNDE (aka Lady K), iii. Tajudeen ERINOYEN, Diakola ADEMOLA, Abideen SHITTU, Jamiu NOAH, Ayobami DONALD, Adelabe USMAN, Oluwafelumi KUNLE, Raji KAZEEM, Taiwo OPEYEMI and Bamidele SUNDAY.
Afunanya said the reasons for parading the suspects and the items recovered from Igboho’s Ibadan home were 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.
“Alert foreign missions and licencing authorities within and outside Nigeria about this development and the possibility that IGBOHO could declare some of his personal permit and identity cards missing in order to seek their replacement.
“Apprise stakeholders that the Five (5) 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.”
Afunanya added: “The gun duel which lasted for an hour offered IGBOHO the chance to escape. Sunday ADEYEMO a.k.a Sunday IGBOHO is now on the run. IGBOHO may run as far as he can. He may hide as long as he wants. He might have attacked security operatives as his strength carried him. But this will be the end of his shenanigans. Soon, he will not have a hiding place. His strength will sure fail him. And the law will catch up with him. The law may be slow. But it will be steady.
“Consequently, ADEYEMO/IGBOHO is advised to turn himself in to the nearest security agency. Those cheering and eulogizing him may appeal to or advise him to do the needful. He should surrender himself to the appropriate authorities. He or anyone can never be above the law. Meanwhile, those arrested will be charged accordingly.”
