TheCable

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, has alleged that there was an attempt to arrest Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, on Friday.

Igboho, who was in the news recently, had asked herders in Igangan, Ibarapa north local government area of Oyo state, to leave the community within seven days.

He had accused herders and Fulanis of being behind the rising insecurity in the area.

His statement reportedly incited some of his supporters to destroy houses and cars, including those of Saliu Kadri, the Seriki Fulani of Igangan.

The quit notice, which sparked tension in some parts of the state, prompted Seyi Makinde, the governor, to ask Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP) to arrest those fomenting trouble in Oyo.

The IGP, thereafter, directed Ngozi Onadeko, Oyo commissioner of police, to arrest Igboho and transfer him to Abuja, but some Yoruba leaders, including Fani-Kayode, were against the order.

In a tweet on Friday, Fani-Kayode said he was informed by Igboho that there was “a violent attempt” to arrest him by a joint team of soldiers, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and police officers along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

“I just spoke to my brother, Sunday Igboho. He told me there was a violent attempt to arrest him this afternoon by a joint team of soldiers, DSS operatives & policemen numbering about 40 on the Ibadan/Lagos Expressway whilst he was on his way to see Baba Ayo Adebanjo in Lagos,” Fani-Kayode wrote.

I just spoke to my brother Sunday Igboho. He told me there was a violent attempt to arrest him this afternoon by a joint team of soldiers, DSS operatives & policemen numbering about 40 on the Ibadan/Lagos Expressway whilst he was on his way to see Baba Ayo Adebanjo in Lagos. 1/ pic.twitter.com/tjyuKH58Bv

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) February 26, 2021

..I condemn this attempt to ambush& abduct him. It is not only reckless but also very dangerous. If the security agencies want to see him all they need to do is to invite him to their office. I am not aware of any crime that he has committed & I urge restraint on all sides. 2/

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) February 26, 2021

The former minister condemned the “ambush”, and warned the federal government that any attempt to detain Igboho would be a big mistake.

“I condemn this attempt to ambush & abduct him. It is not only reckless but also very dangerous. If the security agencies want to see him all they need to do is to invite him to their office. I am not aware of any crime that he has committed & I urge restraint on all sides,” Fani-Kayode added.

“Let me also send a warning to the FG that Sunday Igboho is a hero to millions of Yorubas & either killing him or detaining him unlawfully would be the biggest mistake they could make. Building bridges, dialogue& peace is better than violence & war. A word is enough for the wise.”