Supporters of wanted Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, on Wednesday stormed the streets of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to protest the recent nocturnal raid of his residence by the operatives of the Department of State Services.
The placard-carrying protesters, who gathered in front of Igboho’s house in the Sooka area of Ibadan at 12noon, later stormed the streets of the ancient city, chanting, “No retreat, no surrender!”, “Oodua Nation!”, “Sunday Igboho is not a criminal!.”
A leader of the protesting youths, whose name was unknown as of the time of filing this report, addressed the gathering before they took off.
He said they would march to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; and from there proceed to the Government House, amongst other places.
The leader of the protesters said, “It is a peaceful demonstration; we are marching there to demand the release of the detained persons. We are not afraid of teargas, we are marching to demand the rights of our people.
“We want them to bring the killers of Adogan and Alfa to book.
“The government must pay the N500m damages as requested by Igboho’s lawyer for the destruction of his house and property during the invasion.
“We want the Obas to make this happen within seven days.”
DSS had invaded the residence of Igboho in a Gestapo style around 1am on Thursday. Though Igboho had escaped the raid, his house and cars were riddled with bullets while bloodstains splattered over the floors of the house. The DSS also said it killed two of his associates in a gun duel. Thirteen of Igboho’s guards and close associates were later paraded in Abuja on Thursday evening.
DSS has since declared Igboho, who they have accused of stockpiling weapons to allegedly destabilise the country under the guise of agitation for Yoruba nation, wanted.
The activist has since denied the allegation, saying he protects himself with charms and not weapons.
Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, lauded the raid. He said Igboho is a militant who conducts acts of terror, adding that the regime won’t condone any act by secessionists.
But the DSS raid had been condemned by many Nigerians including human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, who described it as a “nocturnal coup”, arguing that no law in Nigeria allows security agents to arrest anyone in the dead of the night.
Also, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, had condemned the invasion which he described as “bizarre”.
Similarly, Southern governors, on Monday, resolved that security agencies must notify them as the chief security officer of their states before they carry out any operation within their domain.