Sunday Igboho asks for permission to go after bandits and herdsmen operating across the southwest

YORUBA Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho has called on the state governments across the southwest geo-political zones to grant him the authority to flush out the armed bandits operating in the area.

On July 1 2021, Mr Igboho fled after his Ibadan home was raided by security forces who killed two of his aides and arrested a further 13. He subsequently turned up in Benin Republic but was arrested at Cotonou airport while he was trying to board a plane to Germany and is now in court facing several immigration charges.

In 2023, Mr Igboho was released by the Beninoise authorities and since travelled to join his family in Germany, where he has lived ever since. In October last year, he made a surprise visit to London where he delivered a petition to Prime Minister Kier Starmer at 10 Downing Street, requesting the British government support the creation of a Yoruba nation.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Igboho expressed deep concern over the continued attacks on residents of southwest Nigeria by bandits and rogue herders, including incidents of killings, rape and the destruction of farmlands. He lamented the suffering of innocent farmers and vowed to take action to protect his people if given the green light.

Mr Igboho added: “I can no longer stand by and watch as bandits and herdsmen attack, rape, and kill my people who are simply trying to make a living through farming and other legitimate means. I will go after the bandits and herdsmen lurking in the forests provided the government gives me the go-ahead. It is my duty to protect my kinsmen from such heinous acts.”

He criticised the violence inflicted on innocent farmers, describing it as callous and unjustifiable. Mr Igboho called on the government and other relevant stakeholders to take decisive action to ensure the safety of citizens.

With the rising insecurity across Nigeria, Mr Igboho’s statement has reignited discussions about community-based security initiatives and the role of activists in addressing the challenges posed by banditry and violent cattle herdsmen. Whether the government will respond to his request for permission remains to be seen but his statement underscores the frustration and determination of many local leaders in the face of escalating insecurity.