Sunday Igboho: DSS Alerts Foreign Missions, Says Activist Planing Armed Insurrection

The Department of State Services (DSS) has claimed responsibility for the Thursday morning raid on the residence of activist Sunday Igboho.

According to the DSS, it’s operatives arrested thirteen people and recovered arms from Igboho’s residence located in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said the arrested persons were paraded on Thursday night in Abuja.

Afunanya said the suspects were arrested after a fierce gun battle with Igboho’s supposed security guards.

He said Igboho managed to escape after a gun duel that lasted for an hour.

“In the course of the exchange, two (2) 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.”

Seven AK-47 rifles, three pump action guns, 30 AK-47 magazines, 5,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, two pistols, 50 cartridges and 18 walkie-talkies were reportedly recovered from Igboho’s residence.

Afunanya added 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.”

The DSS further urged foreign missions and licencing authorities to be at alert as, “IGBOHO could declare some of his personal permit and identity cards missing in order to seek their replacement.”

Afunanya added that, “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 eulogising 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.

THE WHISTLER reports that 48-year-old Igboho is popularly known in Yorubaland for his active role in the Modakeke-Ife communal crisis in 1997.

The Thursday morning incident made it the second time security agents would be raiding his residence.

The raids may be unconnected to the ultimatum he gave to herdsmen to leave the Ibarapa area of Oyo State and the subsequent alleged forceful eviction of the herders over worsening insecurity in the area.

The DSS said that the following were recovered from Igboho’s residence:

1. Seven (7) AK-47 assault rifles;
2. Three (3) Pump Action guns;
3. Thirty (30) fully charged AK-47 magazines;
4. Five Thousand (5,000) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition;Five (5) Cutlasses, One (1) Jack knife, One (1) Pen Knife
5. Two (2) Pistol holsters;
6. One (1) binoculars
7. A wallet containing Five (5) US Dollars in one (1) Dollar denomination; local and international driver’s licences in his name, ATM Cards, a German residence permit No. YO2N6K1NY bearing his name;
8. Two (2) whistles;
9. Fifty (5) Cartridges;
10. Eighteen (18) Walkie-Talkies;
11. Three Voodoo charm jackets/traditional body armour;
12. Two (2) Laptops (One (1) Toshiba and One (1) Compaq); and
13. His International Passport and those of many others (as displayed here). Further exploitation and forensic analysis are ongoing.

The service gave the names of those paraded as:

i. Abdulateef OFEYAGBE

ii. Amoda BABATUNDE aka Lady K (female)

iii. Tajudeen ERINOYEN

iv. Diakola ADEMOLA

v. Abideen SHITTU

vi. Jamiu NOAH

vii. Ayobami DONALD

viii. Adelabe USMAN

ix. Oluwafelumi KUNLE

x. Raji KAZEEM

xi. Taiwo OPEYEMI and

xii. Bamidele SUNDAY.