TheCable

Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) says the raid by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the home of Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, was lawful.

The secret police said it recovered weapons and charms from the home of Igboho in Oyo state after intelligence that he was stockpiling arms – ahead of a “Yoruba Nation” rally.

Two people were killed during the raid and 13 of his supporters were arrested.

In a statement on Wednesday, Solomon Semaka, convener of the movement, described DSS’s action as “proactive sting operation”.

Semaka said it is not true that the weapons were planted at Igboho’s home by DSS operatives.

“The press release by the DSS noted this exchange which led to the death of two of Igboho’s men and sustenance of injury by one operative,” he said.

“It is instructive to note that the DSS personnel are as well legally imbued with the powers of the police in the circumstance under reference.

“The Nigerian laws consider it a criminal offence for anyone to be in possession of charms.

“The Police ban of the rally was in order. We are all witnesses to the killings and destruction of property during the #EndSARS protests in Lagos. It was certain Igboho was going to rehash this.

“No responsible citizen or media organ would support violence as a means to an end. The fact remains that government and security agencies have continued to confront the menace of banditry and terrorism in the north and everyday day bandits and terrorists are pounded.”