Sunday Igboho Reveals How He Evaded Arrest During DSS Raid

 

Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has recounted his experience during the July 2021 raid by the Department of State Services (DSS) at his Ibadan residence. Speaking on Monday while hosting a group of Muslim clerics, Igboho detailed how he managed to avoid capture despite the security operatives' extensive search.

The raid took place in the early hours of July 1, 2021, amid escalating tensions between Igboho, a prominent Yoruba Nation advocate, and the federal government. According to Igboho, he remained hidden throughout the operation, which he described as chaotic and violent. He claimed that the DSS operatives mistook a cat for him and even brought a so-called "fake herbalist" to perform rituals in an attempt to locate him.

"When they arrived around 1:30 AM, I heard sounds and was curious about who it was," Igboho recounted. "They began shooting at my room and when they breached my house, I was still inside, dressed only in a jean and shirt after quickly getting dressed upon hearing their voices."

Igboho recalled the moment the DSS operatives forced their way into his home, pointing guns at his personal assistant, Dudu. He described a scene of confusion and fear, stating, "They were shooting at close range without even seeing me." He also mentioned that rumors of his transformation into a cat to evade capture were unfounded, asserting, "I didn’t turn into a cat. They even killed it, thinking it was me."

The raid resulted in the recovery of firearms and ammunition, according to the DSS, which also claimed that two of Igboho's aides were killed during the operation. Thirteen associates of Igboho were arrested, further escalating tensions surrounding his activism for an independent Yoruba Nation.

Igboho's campaign has been marked by a series of provocative statements directed at Fulani residents in Oyo State, whom he accused of criminal activities, particularly kidnappings. His calls for the expulsion of alleged criminal elements from Yorubaland drew significant media attention and government scrutiny.

After leaving Nigeria, Igboho was apprehended in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while attempting to travel to Germany. Following months of legal proceedings, he was released and has since remained in self-imposed exile, continuing to advocate for the Yoruba Nation from abroad.

During his recent address, Igboho expressed gratitude for the prayers and support he received from the Muslim clerics, attributing his survival to divine intervention amid the chaos of the raid.

The events surrounding the DSS raid and Igboho's subsequent actions highlight the ongoing tensions in Nigeria regarding ethnic identity, security, and the quest for autonomy among various groups.