Igboho Seeks Removal From Wanted List, Urges FG to Prioritize Southwest Security

Orile Igbon, Oyo State – Popular Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has appealed to the Federal Government to remove his name from its wanted list and to immediately address the escalating insecurity in the Southwest region.

Igboho made this passionate plea on Tuesday during a visit to the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, at his palace. Arriving with his entourage at approximately 4:20 p.m., Igboho expressed profound unhappiness about his current status, stating, “I am not happy that I am not free in my own fatherland. I want the Federal Government to remove my name from the wanted list because I am not a criminal.”

He recounted an incident where he was denied a Nigerian passport at the embassy in Germany due to his inclusion on a government wanted list. “A lot of people are threatening to kill me; I cannot sleep in my house,” Igboho lamented, emphasizing his desire for full freedom and reintegration into Nigerian society.

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Beyond his personal plight, Igboho highlighted the alarming security situation pervading the Southwest, urging the government to appoint competent individuals to safeguard the region. “If they cannot let me handle it, they should assign it to someone capable, and we will give our full support,” he stated.

Oba Alao, in his remarks, lauded Igboho as a true patriot, asserting that his activism contributed significantly to the emergence of a Yoruba president. The monarch pledged royal backing and promised to engage the Alaafin of Oyo and other key stakeholders to secure Igboho’s complete freedom. “You are not a criminal. Your efforts played a role in the emergence of a Yoruba president. I appeal to President Bola Tinubu to pardon you and fully restore your rights,” Oba Alao said. He further urged all Southwest governors to unite and approach the President on Igboho’s behalf, emphasizing, “Enough of your time abroad—we need you back home.”

Notably, Oba Alao recommended Igboho for a leadership role in the Southwest’s security architecture, expressing confidence in his capacity. He affirmed his intention to send a formal recommendation to the governors and President Tinubu within 48 hours. The monarch also expressed optimism for continued Yoruba leadership at the federal level, predicting, “Tinubu will complete his eight years. A Yoruba man will be in the presidency until 2031.”

Sunday Igboho became a prominent figure in 2021 after issuing an ultimatum to herders in Ibarapa, Oyo State, amidst rising insecurity. This led to a raid on his Ibadan residence by the Department of State Services (DSS) in July 2021, where he was declared wanted on allegations of stockpiling arms, an accusation he has consistently denied. He subsequently fled Nigeria and was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, before being released under strict conditions. He had briefly returned to Nigeria in 2024 for his late mother’s burial. His recent visit to Oba Alao’s palace underscores his continued efforts to clear his name and contribute to the security of his homeland.