OYO: Yoruba leaders condemn attempted arrest of Igboho, warn Buhari

THE attempted arrest of popular Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho by the joint team of policemen, army and officers of the Department of State Security has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians, particularly those of Yoruba descent.

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Attempt to arrest Igboho reckless, dangerous – Fani-kayode

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in a statement following the incident, said Igboho was on his way to meet with 93-year-old Afenifere chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo, when the incident occurred.

The statement read in part, “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 are better than intimidation, threats, violence and war. A word is enough for the wise.”

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Attempt to arrest Igboho shows Buhari’s administration as dictatorial, imperialistic – Adebanjo

AFENIFERE chieftain, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, has described attempt to  arrest Igboho as “unfortunate and uncalled for”

The nonagenarian lamented that bandits, who are killing and kidnapping people in the North, had not been arrested, while Igboho is being hunted.

Adebanjo, who described Buhari’s tenure as dictatorial and imperialistic, noted that only God can deliver Nigeria from the President’s hands.

The Afenifere chieftain also confirmed Igboho’s visit to his house in Lagos yesterday.

He said the Yoruba activist arrived in his house at 11.44pm for a meeting.

He said, “Yes, Sunday Igboho was here. He paid me a courtesy visit. We had a useful discussion.” 

The elder statesman, however, did not disclose what he discussed with the activist during the visit to his house.

Adebanjo also decried that Gumi, despite his “debilitating utterances,” had not been arrested by the Buhari regime, adding that the Islamic scholar’s comments that bandits were not criminals and that they should be given amnesty was unjust.

The Afenifere chieftain also criticised Gumi for saying Christian soldiers were the ones killing Fulani herdsmen and bandits.

He recalled that though the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, had written to Buhari in 2018 about the killings of his people by Fulani herdsmen, the President did nothing about it.

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Igboho is a free citizen, stop hounding him – Afenifere

YORUBA socio-cultural group, Afenifere, also condemned the attempt to arrest Igboho. According to Punch, Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, said the machinery of government would not have been after Igboho, were he a bandit.

Odumakin, responding to the attempted arrest, said, “There is no sense in that (arrest). He (Igboho) is a free citizen of Nigeria. If they need him for any questioning, they should invite him, rather than waylay him like an armed robber.

“We condemn their attempt. There is no need for it. He has not been invited, let alone not honouring the invitation. Chasing him on the road is condemnable.”

The Afenifere spokesman lamented that the Buhari regime favoured bandits who had been left roaming the country despite their many atrocities.

“Sunday Igboho is not a bandit. Bandits are special under this administration. That is the difference between a bandit and a non-bandit in Nigeria today,” stated Odumakin.

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You can’t arrest Igboho without picking Gumi, others, Falana tells FG

HUMAN rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has said  the Federal Government cannot arrest Igboho without picking up Gumi, who has been meeting with bandits, and others who have issued quit notices to southerners in the past.

Falana noted that Gumi had told bandits last week that Christian soldiers were the ones killing them.

He said, rather than focus on Igboho, the government must ensure that justice is applied equitably.

The senior advocate said, “Sunday Igboho should not be arrested because those who had issued quit notices in the past were not arrested. Someone like Gumi, who is causing religious division in the military, has not been arrested. Unless they are ready to adopt the same standard, you cannot arrest Igboho.

“Those who gave quit notices in the past were never arrested. In any case, the DSS has denied trying to arrest him. However, you cannot arrest him.”

Falana also agreed with the Presidency that there was a need for state governments to stop giving cash and vehicles to bandits as part of amnesty, which he said was encouraging the banditry.

“The government must acquire equipment to track the bandits and release those in their  custody,” the activist said.

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Igboho hasn’t breached any law – YCE

The Secretary General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide, also berated security agencies and the government for the attempt to arrest Igboho.

Olajide said Igboho had not breached any law by defending his people from criminals who had terrorised them for many years.

Similarly, the President, Egbe Omo Oduduwa in Minnesota, United States of America, Goke Odujole, warned the government against picking up Igboho, saying the move was tantamount to pouring petrol into a fire.

Also, President, Centre for Change, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, in a statement titled ‘Igboho: Learn from history,’ expressed concern over the attempt by security operatives to arrest Igboho, saying, “With crises everywhere – Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, banditry, kidnappings and the Niger Delta militants joining the fray again – we must not open another theatre of war in the South-West.”    

The attempted arrest of Igboho may not be unconected with his decision to flush criminal herders from Yorubaland.

In January, Igboho had issued a seven-day quit notice to Seriki Fulani in Igangan, Salihu Abdukadir, over the killings, kidnappings, rape and other crimes allegedly perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in the Ibarapaland area of Oyo State, especially Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area.

He later visited the residence of the Seriki and asked him to leave the town. 

But Governor Seyi Makinde warned against issuing such quit notices to residents of the state urging the police to treat Igboho and his men like criminals if arrested.

On the day the ultimatum expired, Igboho went back to Igangan and addressed thousands of youths who had gathered to welcome him. Though he addressed them and left, an irate mob, however, invaded the Seriki’s residence and set it ablaze in the wake of his visit.