BREAKING: Police disperse Igboho supporters’ protest in Ibadan

Armed policemen have dispersed protests staged by the supporters of Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho in Ibadan against the arrest and detention of the activist by authorities in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Advocate.ng gathered that the protesters marched to Soka Bus Stop along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where they sang and demanded the release of Igboho.

Residents said the protesters, who were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, included males and females.

They were said to have called on Yoruba leaders and the international community to fight for the release of Igboho.

An eyewitness said that Igboho supporters sang repeatedly, warning the Federal Government not to kill Igboho the way Chief MKO Abiola was allegedly killed.

The source added that the protest grounded traffic in the area and some motorists who were conversant had to take alternative routes to avoid the area.

A resident of the area who identified himself as Musbau Ogunbiyi said the protest started at about 1.50pm.

He said, “The policemen came in about four patrol vans and a car. They shot in the air and chased away the protesters.”

But another resident, Taye Adeoti said the protesters marched towards Challenge Area after spending some minutes at the bus stop.

It was gathered that armed policemen had dispersed protesters and taken over the place as of 3.30 pm.

They stationed themselves at strategic positions at the location. After clearing the traffic, they stayed for a while before they left.

Recall that the spokesperson of the Yoruba Nation agitators on Wednesday afternoon called out their members to stage a protest in Ibadan, Oyo State to demand the release of their embattled leader Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic.

Advocate.ng reports Igboho, who was arrested at an airport in Cotonou on Monday night, is still being held by the Beninise authorities.

The agitators last week protested against the raid of Igboho’s residence by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and demanded the release of those arrested in Igboho’s house.

A terse statement by Igboho’s spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki obtained by The Nation said: “Emergency Emergency Emergency Emergency, please we beg all agitators to converge at chief Sunday Igboho house for a peaceful demonstration to show the world the kind of person he is as one of the conditions given for his release…

“Please let us all be at his house in Soka Ibadan before 12 o clock today thanks and God bless. Yoruba Nation now now now.

Recall that Igboho and his wife, Ropo, were arrested at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic around 8 pm on Monday. They were subsequently detained in separate cells. The Nigerian government has since been pushing for their extradition to Abuja but many individuals and groups have kicked against this move.

Igboho, who rose to prominence in January 2021 after he issued an ultimatum to ‘killer herders’ in parts of Ibarapaland, was said to have escaped the security apparatus in the areas to Benin Republic where he was scheduled to catch a flight to Germany.

He had been declared wanted on July 1, 2021 when the Department of State Services raided his Soka residence in Ibadan, arrested 12 of his aides and killed two others.