Igboho’s men dare police over Lagos rally

Igboho’s men dare police over Lagos rally

Policemen being briefed at the police headquarters, Lagos... yesterday.

Security agencies in show of force, warn organisers •I’m being persecuted for fighting kidnapping, killings, says embattled youth activist •Disowns arms displayed by DSS.

By Joe Jibueze, Alao Abiodun; Precious Igbonwelundu; Chris Njoku, Owerri AND Innocent Duru

 

Agitators for Yoruba nation appear to be heading on a collision course with security agents in Lagos today.

The agitators vowed yesterday to press ahead with their rally in spite of police warning that they should desist.

Olayomi Koiki, spokesman for the embattled Yoruba youth activist and one of the prime movers of the agitation Sunday Igboho, said the rally would go ahead as planned.

Organisers of the Lagos rally and the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), also insisted on going ahead with the rally today.

But the Police asked the secessionists to steer clear of Lagos.

Igboho, speaking from his hideout yesterday, accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government of persecuting him for his “resistance to the incessant killing, raping and kidnapping of my people in Southwest Nigeria by armed Fulani herdsmen.”

Igboho, who was declared wanted by the Department of State Security (DSS) soon after the raid of his Ibadan house on Wednesday, said in a lengthy statement that government was out to “forcefully silence me so that the criminal herdsmen, who enjoy government’s sympathy, protection and immunity, can easily outrun the Southwest.”

Igboho had announced the suspension of the rally soon after the raid on his house only for his spokesman, Koiki, to declare yesterday that the rally would proceed as originally scheduled.

Koiki conveyed a message from Igboho to his supporters ”not to be weighed down about what happened, he is standing with the Yoruba Nation agenda,” a veiled reference to the raid on his house.

He added: “I can still confirm officially that the Lagos rally inasmuch as whatever news or rumours you’ve been listening to from different outlets will go as planned.

 

”The 3rd of July Mega rally will go as planned. All arrangements for the rally have been planned and nothing has changed.

 

“I have spoken to the organisers, nothing has changed so far. 3rd of July from exactly 9:00 am in the morning. The whole arrangement and planning is going on.

“I’ve spoken with the General Secretary of Ilana Omo Odua, George Akinola, and also in the early hours before noon, I spoke with Banji Akintoye and he is working tirelessly for the release of those taken away.

“The rally in Lagos is going to be a peaceful rally. It is going to be a mega rally. Do not be disturbed about what happened. So many developments took place at Igboho’s house.

Read Also: Yorubas in Diaspora protest attack on Sunday Igboho’s residence

 

“We might get a form of video from Igboho about the Lagos rally, which might be released. We’ll be deciding that in the next 24 hours.”

Ilana Omo Oodua Group: No going back on Lagos rally

Organisers of the Lagos rally and the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), posted a similar message to say they were going ahead with the rally today.

Communications Manager of the group, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, said the rally would still take place “without any fear or intimidation, and we promise to be peaceful like we have always been.

“We have been peaceful, orderly and lawful at everywhere we have visited. Therefore, we call on the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that the rally is not hijacked by hoodlums.

“We are happy that the police already know that hoodlums are likely to hijack the rally. Now, we call on the police to ensure such does not happen like it didn’t happen in Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun states respectively where we’ve held our rallies.

“It is the duty of the police to safeguard our peaceful demonstration and protect us. On our own part, we promise to cooperate with the police towards ensuring that the rally is peaceful and orderly.”

In a separate letter to the Lagos State Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu, General Secretary and Legal Adviser of IOO, Arc. George Akinola and Barr. Olasupo Ojo respectively, urged the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that the rally is peaceful, orderly and not hijacked by hoodlums as earlier insinuated by the police.

The group is headed by History professor and Second Republic Senator Banji Akintoye.

Police threaten showdown with Oodua agitators

The police threatened for the umpteenth time they would not allow any gathering, procession or rally by the agitators in Lagos.

Addressing a security gathering comprising operatives of the police, Department of State Security (DSS) and Federal Road Safety Commission at the command headquarters said they were prepared for the agitators.

He said security agents in the state were embarking on a show-of-force as a warning to the organisers of the rally or any group of persons planning to stage any rally or procession in the state in defiance of warnings.

He said: “The command and other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FRSC and DSS have put measures in place to prevent any act of lawlessness, oppression and intimidation of any kind in the state on the said date, 3rd July, 2021 and beyond as Lagos State cannot afford to record and experience the violence orchestrated by some individuals during the 2020 Endsars protest that led to massive destruction of lives and properties in the state.

“The command still reiterates its stance that anyone caught participating or facilitating the so-called mega rally in Lagos State will be dealt with within the ambits of the law.”

Igboho: Why Buhari is persecuting me    

From his hideout, Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Igboho yesterday accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government of persecuting him for his “resistance to the incessant killing, raping and kidnapping of my people in Southwest Nigeria by armed Fulani herdsmen.”

Igboho who was declared wanted by the Department of State Security (DSS) soon after the raid of his Ibadan house on Thursday, said in a lengthy statement that government was out to “forcefully silence me, so that the criminal herdsmen, who enjoy government’s sympathy, protection and immunity, can easily outrun the Southwest.”

In his statement entitled  My persecution by Buhari Regime: Setting the records straight, he said: “The invasion of my home by Nigerian security operatives and the Department of State Security’s (DSS) announcement that I’m wanted has made it essential for me to set the records straight for Nigerians and the international community.

“Nigerian security operatives invaded my residence in the early hours of Wednesday, 1 July, 2021. The invasion was done without a search warrant. I was not invited for questioning/investigation at any government facility before the invasion.

“The operatives that stormed my residence destroyed my properties, killed persons and stole valuables and money. Pictures and videos of their atrocities have been widely reported in the media.

“Nigerians and the world at large are aware of my resistance to the incessant killings, raping and kidnapping of my people in Southwest Nigeria by armed Fulani herdsmen. The failure of President Muhammadu Buhari and his government to curb the criminal activities of the murderous herdsmen necessitated my intervention.

“I ordinarily would not have intervened if government had lived up to its responsibility of securing the Southwest and Nigeria at large from the criminal activities of the President’s ethnic men.

“Of public knowledge, my intervention has not let to any loss of life or bloodshed. My means of curbing criminality is to chase the criminal Fulani herdsmen out of their hideouts in company of the people of the affected communities.

“It is because of the foreseen government persecution that videos of such interventions were transmitted live on social media.

“Nigerians, the security operatives, and the presidency are aware that I have never moved against the peaceful Fulani and other tribes living peacefully in the Southwest.

“My unjust persecution — for defending my people and community — is therefore surprising and unwarranted.

“After several unsuccessful attempts to link me to any crime, the Buhari regime desperately opted to forcefully silence me, so that the criminal herdsmen, who enjoy government’s sympathy, protection and immunity, can easily outrun the Southwest.

“The presidency’s serial antics and desperation to acquire people’s ancestral lands across Nigeria for foreign Fulani herdsmen because they share ethnicity and occupation with the President is well known to Nigerians and the international community.

“I am being seen as a threat to the Fulanization agenda in the Southwest, hence the desperation to soil my name.

“Nigerians and the international community should please be aware that the security operatives that invaded my home either planted the ammunition being paraded in the media in my home or harvested them from their armoury to frame me.

“The arms paraded are not mine, they are government magic. I protect myself with traditional powers, not with guns.

“Federal government framed me up and the sequence of events brings the truth bare. Why would the security agents invade my home at night and destroy my surveillance cameras before carrying out their operation if not that they had an ulterior motive?

Read Also: Yoruba Nation Rally will hold in Lagos, Sunday Igboho insists

 

“In this modern age of technological advancement, why did the security operatives not put on body cameras to record their activities from the point of entry to their time of exit? Their action is a testament that the Buhari regime is incurable of using desperate approach to silence peaceful social interventions.

“The unwarranted military invasion of Lekki, gruesome killing of peaceful EndSARS protesters, and evacuation of their bodies on 20 October 2020 is still fresh in the mind of Nigerians.

“A similar approach was adopted during the invasion of my home. The security operatives killed scores and took away their bodies.

“Buhari’s regime would have declared that ‘unknown gunmen’ invaded my home if they had succeeded in killing me. Nigerians and the international community should beware that desperate efforts are being made to force those arrested to make implicating confession statement.

“I advise the DSS to desist from their unprofessional acts and devote such energy to eradicating insecurity.

“Nigerians and the international community should please note that I am a law-abiding citizen without blemish.

“I advise President Buhari to, in the interest of Nigerians that voted him to power, order his henchmen to desist from using falsehood and unholy tactics to soil my name. Such energy should be devoted to taming the herdsmen and bandits freely committing heinous crimes across Nigeria with impunity because their kinsman is in power.

“Yoruba people would not be demanding for a nation if government had lived up to its responsibilities. Self-determination is not a crime and all effort to silence us and acquire our ancestral land for local and foreign criminal herdsmen will fail.

“Many Ken Saro-Wiwa arose after Nigerian government unjustly executed the non-violent activist. Those that emerged after him confronted government and almost brought Nigeria to its knees.

“I am another Saro-Wiwa. Therefore, I advise President Buhari to learn from the mistake of past governments. I am not Nigeria’s problem and should not be framed up or intimidated for contributing my quota to ensure peace reigns in my region and country.”

The statement was signed by his spokesman, Olayomi Koiki.

More revelations on Igboho’s house raid: DSS thought Igboho turned into cat to escape arrest, says spokesperson

More revelations emerged yesterday on the raid by the DSS on the residence of Sunday Igboho, with his spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, saying the security officials took away one of the pet cats.

He claimed the security officials thought Igboho, who escaped during the raid, could have used his charms to turn into a cat.

He said: “Chief Sunday Igboho escaped not because he was stronger, but God rescued him. How will they say that they saw one dollar?

“They can label anyone, but we will not back down. They want Igboho dead. The target was to kill him but they failed.

“They took one of his cats away, thinking he transformed into a cat during the attack to escape. All the allegations against Igboho should be for terrorists killing people in the country.”

Koiki also identified one of those killed during the raid as Adogan.

He also posted Adogan’s photograph.

He did not identify the second casualty.

His words: ”One of them was shot by the DSS while the other person was not killed by bullet. They tried shooting at him but he was not affected, so they literally butchered him. They killed him in cold blood.”

The DSS had earlier said two persons were killed during the raid after Igboho’s men opened fire as the operatives approached the house.

More condemnations trail attack on Igboho’s house

Yoruba in the Diaspora, an Igbo think-tank, the Nzuko Umunna, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday joined in condemning the attack on Subday Igboho’s residence by security operatives.

The Yoruba in the Diaspora protested at the Nigerian Embassy in London.

The protesters chanted solidarity songs  and displayed placards.

They condemned the invasion and attack on his residence, adding that Igboho is a peaceful man.

Some of the placards read: ”Location 419.. #YorubaNationNow, “Yoruba Nation.. No going back”, “Sunday Igboho is a man of the people”, “Oduduwa Nation must stand”. 

One of the protesters Peter Oladele said their action was to “inform the embassy that enough is enough.”

He said: “Look at the criminal atrocities committed by criminal herdsmen. We are not going to back down. Sunday Igboho is not a terrorist.”

Another protester, Grace Dada, said: “What did Igboho do to the federal government? Gumi is there patronising bandits; why didn’t they arrest him?

“They killed two persons. We want them to release those arrested. We are not criminals, Yoruba are peaceful people. Since Igboho has been holding the rally, it has been peaceful.”

Igbo think-tank, the Nzuko Umunna, faulted the DSS for killing two aides of Sunday Igboho.

It said security agencies should be held accountable for killings that occur during their operations.

In a statement by its executives Ngozi Odumuko and Paschal Mbanefo, the think-tank said: “Nzuko Umunna observes with deep concern that ‘sting operations’ by Nigeria’s security agencies has become synonymous with predictable bloodletting, contrary to similar operations in other climes.

“We recall the raid on the Afara-Ukwu home of Leader of the Indigineous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the more recent attack on the residence of his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor.

“The seeming impunity and lack of accountability for these killings by security operatives may have emboldened this unacceptable breach of globally accepted rules of engagement. This must stop!

“The DSS must operate within the ambit of Nigeria’s Constitution and laws, more so as the Service admits that no-one or entity can be above the law.”

 

Nzuko Umunna said it expected the agency to conduct a thorough investigation on cases before briefing Nigerians rather than acting in speculations and engaging in media trial.

It added: “The events of the last few days are grave and troubling, and can only worsen the heightened socio-political barometer of the polity.

“We totally deplore the seeming onslaught on rights activists and regional agitators. This feeds into the worrisome but widespread view that there is a deliberate attack on progressive elements in order to further shrink the civic space.

“Nzuko Umunna is highly worried by this situation, and urges the Federal Government to immediately pull back its agents from this state of affairs.

“Nzuko Umunna stands in solidarity now and at all times with all rights activists and especially the Yoruba Nation in their quest for justice and equity.”

Nzuko Umunna is an influential pan-Igbo think-tank comprising leading lights in Nigeria and the diaspora.

Also reacting, IPOB described the invasion of Igboho’s home as barbaric.

Its spokesman Emma Powerful said: “Sunday Igboho has not killed anybody. Nigeria government and her security operatives invaded his home and kidnapped his innocent women in the house because of the proposed rally in Lagos on Saturday 4th of July 2021.

“IPOB worldwide is solidly behind Sunday Igboho and Odua nation movement. The attack on Igboho is akin to the attack they unleashed on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi on September 14, 2017 when the military python danced in his country home.

“It’s very appalling that the Nigeria security agencies are aiding and abetting  terrorist herdsmen and Boko Haram, ISWAP and other terror groups to kill innocent citizens in Nigeria, while suppressing those genuinely defending their people.”

The DSS said its men recovered illegal arms — including seven AK-47 rifles — and thousands of ammunition from Igboho’s house.

The agency also paraded 13 supporters of the activist, who allegedly attacked DSS operatives during the raid.

 

PANDEF: We stand in solidarity with Southwest

Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) condemned the midnight raid of the Igboho’s residence and also asked the federal government to tell Nigerians the truth about what it described as the abduction of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by agents of the Department of State Services, DSS.

In a communique issued at the end of its extraordinary meeting held on Thursday and Friday in Abuja, the forum described the raid on Igboho’s house as brutal and bloody.

It said the raid by agents of the Department of State Services, DSS, in a gestapo manner, claimed the lives of innocent citizens and led to the destruction of property.

It said: “We stand in solidarity with Afenifere, and the South-West people on this matter and call on Mr President to immediately call to order the security agencies and cease all forms of flagrant abuse of power.

“We also stand firmly, in solidarity with the people of the Middle Belt Region, in the face of brutal physical attacks and seeming plans to destroy their every means of livelihood, by suspected Fulani gunmen.

“We caution the Federal Government of Nigeria over the now likely deleterious consequences of ignoring, or treating with contempt, the 16-Point Agenda presented to President Muhammadu Buhari on 1st November 2016.