Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, has regained his freedom from the Beninese authorities.
The embattled agitator said on Sunday he was now legally free to leave Cotonou, capital of the Benin Republic, to Nigeria and other countries.
“I am now free to return to Nigeria and visit any country in the world. I have fulfilled all the legal conditions attached to my bail a few years back and I am coming home to Nigeria, my country of origin, any moment from now.
“I can confirm to you that I am now free to come back to Nigeria. There is no legal encumbrance again. Even though I have been living in Cotonou for some time, I can confirm to you categorically that I have now secured the liberty to leave Cotonou for Nigeria,” Adeyemo told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday.
He regained freedom after two years of trial by the Beninese government.
Recall that Adeyemo stirred the hornet’s nest when he declared the Yoruba Nation’s sovereignty in March 2021.
He started a campaign to chase killer herdsmen and kidnappers out of the South-West states and went on to call on Yoruba in Hausa/Fulani or Igbo territories to return home.
He, however, fled Nigeria in July 2021 following a nocturnal invasion of his Ibadan residence by the operatives of the Department of State Services.
The attack led to at least one death, while some of his belongings were vandalised.
The DSS claimed that seven AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, and 5,000 rounds of ammunition, charms and other weapons were recovered from his apartment during the invasion.
The judgment was later set aside by the Court of Appeal in August 2022.
He was later arrested at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic while attempting to flee to Germany.
Attempts by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to repatriate him to Nigeria were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Igboho, has thanked former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, Professor Banji Akintoye, Ayo Adebanjo and several traditional rulers for the roles they played in securing his release from Beninese custody.
Igboho gave his appreciation in a statement on Sunday he read via his Instagram handle titled, “My Release in Benin Republic”.
Igboho’s statement partly read, “First of all, my sincere appreciation goes to God almighty, the master of the universe for making this day.
“I give special thanks to President Talon of Benin Republic and to all members of his cabinet. My gratitude goes to my heroic father, Professor Banji Akintoye, and Professor Wole Soyinka for their support in the course of the struggle. May God reward you Baba for your standing courageously for our Yoruba nation and me. You promised to stand by me through my ordeal in Benin Republic and you have fulfilled your promise.
“I will not forget to appreciate former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Baba Ayo Adebanjo for their roles, even though only God gives freedom. Let me use this opportunity to say thank you to all religious leaders, pastors, Muslim clerics and traditional worshippers for their prayers day and night.”
The activist had fled Nigeria following a bloody raid on his Soka residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital by the Department of State Service (DSS), which accused him of hoarding arms
The activist had fled Nigeria following a bloody raid on his Soka residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital by the Department of State Service (DSS), which accused him of hoarding arms
