Since it became public on Tuesday, the sudden arrest of Sunday Adeyemo, the Yoruba Nation agitator, has generated heated conversations, especially on social media.
How a man believed to possess metaphysical powers fell into the hands of security operatives easily in Benin Republic remains an unsolved puzzle among his apologists and loyalists.
Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, had been on the run since the Nigerian secret police invaded his home in Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State. The security agents had indiscriminately killed two of his aides in cold blood and arrested many others, even his cats.
After an initial denial, the Department of the State Security Service (DSS), claimed responsibility for the midnight raid and paraded Igboho’s captured aides, accusing them of possessing firearms and instigating violence, a claim denied by the secessionist.
Igboho had fled for his life after he was declared wanted by the DSS. But on Tuesday, Nigerians woke up to receive the news of his arrest by security operatives in the Benin Republic.
However, as it has now been revealed, Igboho had escaped arrest at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou before falling into the trap set by the International Criminal Police (also known as the Interpol).
A travel agent was used to lure him into the net of the police in Benin, according to a top security source in Benin who spoke to Punch.
“Igboho was arrested in Cotonou on Monday night while he tried to travel,” the source was quoted to have said.
“He was already at the airport with a passport. The immigration officers suspected the passport and so they stopped him. In the process, they discovered he was the one. He was able to escape in the course of discussion and we are grateful to God for that.”
READ ALSO: ‘Another Civil War Looming?’ — Sunday Igboho’s Yoruba Secession Controversy
The source also said: “But the travel agent called back saying the matter had been resolved. But on going back, he was arrested. He was trying to travel to Germany when he was apprehended.”
FIJ gathered that Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Benin Republic, played a major role in the arrest of Igboho and his wife.
“Interpol at the airport came and arrested him, saying he was wanted in Nigeria. He was together with his wife,” another source was quoted to have said.
“A lot of people made effort to resolve the matter but we discovered that the Nigerian Ambassador to the Benin Republic was already aware and he said that Igboho must be extradited.”
Like the southeast’s Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), some southwest groups are agitating for the secession of the Yoruba from Nigeria. Since he came to the limelight after issuing a quit notice to Fulani herdsmen in Igangan, Oyo State, Igboho has been at the forefront of agitating for a ‘Yoruba Nation’.
Igboho became more prominent when up to 40 soldiers, police, and other security agents tried but could not arrest him along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
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