TheCable

The Agbekoya Farmers Society has called on the federal government to release Sunday Adeyemo, a Yoruba nation agitator popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

The group said its members are ready to fight over “government’s ill-treatment” of Igboho.

Igboho and his wife were arrested in Benin Republic on Monday while travelling to Germany.

He was declared wanted by the Department of State Services (DSS) after a raid on his house in Ibadan on July 1.

Two people were killed during the late night raid while 12 others were arrested and later paraded in Abuja. They have since been charged to court.

Speaking with TheCable on Wednesday, Olatunji Bandele, national publicity secretary of Agbekoya Farmers Society, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is suppressing the south, owing to the treatment of Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The group wondered why criminal herders are left to roam the forest with sophisticated weapons while those who challenge their activities are being hunted by security agencies.

Bandele said in part: “The position of Agbekoya is that federal government should have a rethink about Nnamdi Kanu and Igboho. The agitations are at the instance of the injustices, killing, banditry and kidnapping. Agbekoya is ready to fight for Igboho’s freedom. Nothing must happen to him.

“We have never had it as worse under any democratic government as we have it under Buhari and it is a pity.”

Bandele said the group has reviewed the raid on Igboho’s house and concluded that government acted in a “barbaric” manner.

He added: “Our position is that Igboho and Kanu should be released. Igboho is not a criminal. What is wrong in speaking against killing of one’s people?

“Is there any law that supports carrying out an arrest in the middle of the night, shooting for up to four hours and killing people in the house? They even took away the corpses; that is barbaric. Agitation is a product of insecurity.”