Seven persons have been killed during an early morning attack on the residence of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to a statement by tht Leader of Yoruba World Congress, Emeritus Prof. Banji Akintoye, wife of the activist was also abducted by the attackers.
He said this in a statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen by his Communications Manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye.
The statement was titled, ‘Yoruba Nation: Elements of the Nigerian Army, Accompanied by International Terrorists hired by the Nigerian State attacked Sunday Ighoho’s Residence – Akintoye.’
According to the Communications Manager, Akintoye alleged that “the assailants were all dressed in military uniform and spoke French language fluently.”
He further said that “the gunmen killed seven occupants in the building and whisked Igboho’s wife and several others away.”
Earlier, Olayemi Koiki, media aide of Sunday Igboho, has stated that two persons were killed during the attack that happened around 1am on Thursday.
“The situation now is very bad. Two Yoruba sons have been killed in the house of Chief Sunday Igboho. The two dead bodies have been taken away by the military. We do not know of the location where they were taken to,” the aide said in a Facebook Live.
Koiki also alleged the identities of the attackers to be soldiers.
“I can confirm that those who came are definitely Nigerian soldiers. There are more than 100 soldiers that came,” Koiki said.
He added, “The situation is very active as more security operatives in about seven Nigerian Army patrol vans have arrived.”
However, the spokesman said, “He (Sunday Igboho) is currently safe.”
Our correspondent gathered that cars and walls of the house were riddled with bullets during the invasion.
Some of the occupants of the house were said to have been whisked away by the invaders who were claimed to have dresses in military camouflage.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Adewale Osifeso, when contacted, said he also heard about the invasion but he would find out to know what happened.
The reported attack is coming hours to a planned rally for the secession of ‘Yoruba Nation’ in Lagos State. Igboho has been going across the South-West geopolitical zone to crusade his secessionist campaign, citing injustice meted out to the people of the region as well as worsening insecurity as reasons for his agitation.
Thursday attack is one of the many reported attacks on Igboho and his Ibadan residence since January 2021 when he issued a seven-day ultimatum to killer herders in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State.
On January 26, 2021, some faceless hoodlums reportedly attacked the Soka residence of Igboho also in Ibadan and gutted the house. (Punch)
