Two years down the line after fleeing from ex-President Muhammadu Buhari government’s arrest and exiling in Benin Republic, celebrated Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Sunday Igboho, has regained his freedom.
Persecondnews recalls that Igboho had fled Nigeria in July 2021 following a bloody night invasion of his Ibadan residence by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Two of Igboho’s men were killed in the raid.
The DSS had confirmed that its operatives stormed the home of Igboho in a bid to effect his arrest on July 1, 2021.
Addressing journalists at the headquarters of the secret police, Dr Peter Afunanya, the service spokesperson, said 13 suspects, including a female and 12 men, were arrested.
Properties destroyed included his G-wagon, Prado Jeep, and some valuable household items including furniture, and windows.
The DSS claimed that seven AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, and 5,000 rounds of ammunition, charms and other weapons were recovered from his apartment during the invasion.
The attack occurred barely 72 hours to the planned rally in Lagos by Mr Igboho and others to further canvas a Yoruba nation.
Speaking on Sunday after his release from house arrest, the embattled agitator said he was now “legally free to leave Cotonou, capital of the Benin Republic, to Nigeria and other countries.”
Igboho said:“I am now free to return to Nigeria and visit any country in the world. I have fulfilled all the legal conditions attached to my bail a few years back and I am coming home to Nigeria, my country of origin, any moment from now.
“I can confirm to you that I am now free to come back to Nigeria. There is no legal encumbrance again. Even though I have been living in Cotonou for some time, I can confirm to you categorically that I have now secured the liberty to leave Cotonou for Nigeria.
Adeyemo had incurred the wrath of the Buhari administration when he declared the Yoruba Nation’s sovereignty in March 2021.
He also championed the fight to chase out killer Fulani herdsmen and kidnappers from the Southwest states.
He had sued the government for willful damage of his home and properties, and got an award of N20 billion damages against the government by an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan.
However, the judgment was set aside by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan in August 2022.
He was later arrested at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic while attempting to flee to Germany.
Spirited efforts by ex-President Buhari and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic to repatriate him to Nigeria failed.
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