Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has shared new details about the violent midnight raid on his Ibadan home by Nigerian security forces on July 1, 2021. Speaking during a recent visit to the palace of the Olowo of Owo in Ondo State, Igboho revealed that a trusted friend leaked secrets to the security operatives, which contributed to the attack and the death of his pet cat.
The raid involved agents from the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security operatives who broke into Igboho’s house. He alleged the attack was aimed at killing him.
“When my house was invaded, they wanted to kill me but failed,” he said. “Some said my intestines were shattered, others said my leg was broken, but there was nothing of such. They fired guns at me very well, but the prayers of you my fathers on me were answered.”
Igboho narrated how the security operatives forced their way into his home and pointed a gun at his Personal Assistant, forcing him to lead them to Igboho’s room.
However, a shocking revelation came when Igboho spoke about betrayal from someone he considered a close friend. According to him, this friend informed the security agents about a cat in the house and instructed them not to let it escape. This led to the operatives killing the cat and wrapping it like a corpse.
“When I opened the door of my room for them, they saw my cat on the bed. One of my friends that I entrusted with secret had told them not to let the cat go. So they killed the cat and wrapped it with clothes like a corpse. They destroyed everywhere in the house and killed one of my brothers alongside one other person and they left,” Igboho recalled.
The raid resulted in the tragic loss of two lives and significant property damage. News of the attack caused widespread outrage across Nigeria, with many citizens condemning the government’s heavy-handed approach.
After the raid, Igboho fled Nigeria but was declared wanted by the federal government. He was later arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while trying to travel to Germany. His detention attracted international attention, sparking campaigns by supporters both in Nigeria and abroad who demanded his release.
Igboho spent nearly two years in custody in Benin Republic. During this painful period, he lost his mother. He shared a touching memory of a phone call with her from prison.
“My mother called me when I was in prison in Cotonou after spending about two years there and said, I told her that if Tinubu became the president I would be freed. I said yes. She said he has been the president for about two months, and you are still not free. She then asked if I knew anyone who could influence my release. I said I don’t. She said if she goes and prays to God for my release, I will be free. I said yes. She said she would go to God. Unfortunately, she died the following day,” he said emotionally during his visit to the Olowo.
Shortly after her death, the president of Benin Republic ordered Igboho’s release. He was reunited with his family in Germany, where he has been living since.
Despite being freed, Igboho has faced challenges returning to Nigeria. The Nigerian government has refused to release his Nigerian passport, preventing him from traveling back directly.
He explained that German officials eventually provided him with a “protection passport,” which allows him to travel but does not grant full citizenship rights.
“One German minister said he would give me a passport that belongs to Germany. Wherever I go, if anything happens, they won’t do anything to me but instead bring me back to Germany, and he gave me that passport. That is the passport I’ve been using to travel,” Igboho explained.
However, he admits this is not a permanent solution and expressed his strong wish to come back home.
At the palace of the Olowo of Owo, Igboho said he has been away from Nigeria for about five years and expressed his eagerness to return and help tackle insecurity in the South-West region.
“But why I came to meet you Kabiyesi is that till when will I be doing that? Nigeria is my motherland. This is about five years since I’ve been chased from here. Tinubu is your son, you can convince him to free me. If not for the wanted tag on me, I would have come to Nigeria to face the insecurity facing the South-West region. I would have entered the bush and faced them,” he pleaded with the monarch.
The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, described Igboho as a beacon of hope for his generation and those to come. He urged the activist not to be discouraged by the challenges he has faced.
The monarch advised Igboho and his followers to remain law-abiding during their struggles. He also promised continued support and called for peace and unity in the South-West, stressing that development cannot happen without security.
Sunday Igboho rose to prominence as a strong voice advocating for the Yoruba Nation, a movement pushing for greater autonomy for the Yoruba people in Nigeria. His activism has often brought him into conflict with the Nigerian government, especially over issues of insecurity and ethnic violence in the South-West.
His defiance, courage, and willingness to confront difficult challenges have earned him both passionate supporters and fierce critics. The July 2021 raid marked a turning point in his life and activism, symbolizing the deep tensions between the government and ethnic-based groups seeking more political recognition.
