By Emmanuel Oladesu, Yinka Adeniran, Bisi Oladele, Ibadan, Precious Igbonwelundu and Alao Abiodun

There was an outrage in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, over the attack on the residence of the Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Igboho.

The security agents were said to have stormed the house in Soka area of Ibadan city in five army branded Hilux vehicles.

Two people were killed in the attack, which the youths described as a calculated attempt to silence the agitator.

It could not be ascertained whether the plan to shelve the proposed Yoruba rally in Lagos scheduled for tomorrow was cancelled in the aftermath of the attack.

Igboho who spoke with BBC Yoruba monitored by The Nation, explained that he was in the house when the attack happened.

He said: “I just heard gunshots in my compound and gunshot in front of my house. They were shouting Sunday Igboho, come out, we are DSS, we are soldiers, come out!

“So, I peeped through the window, and I saw them in DSS uniform, and soldiers. So, I was surprised because I didn’t kill anyone nor fight with anybody, what I’m doing is to fight for me people.

“All the rallies I’m doing are peaceful. I’m fighting for my family too because all the bandits killed members of my family, raped them, kidnapped them and take ransom from them.

“Government refused to do the right thing. That’s why I came out to support my family to fight for our right. So, I was surprised.

Read Also: How my house was invaded, by Sunday Igboho

“I was in the house when they came. They killed about two guys. The shooting was too much. They destroyed all my properties, all my vehicles.”

Decrying the attack, the leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Banji Akintoye, described the attack as “cruel, irresponsible, callous, and a declaration of war against the people.

The Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, described the attack as an indicator of return to the dark days of suppression of opposition.

The organisation, in a statement by its Acting Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and National Publicity Secretary Mr Jare Ajayi, said people in authority are culpable in the attack, given the fact that the attackers bore insignia of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Security (DSS).

The statement reads in part: “The news of fatal attack on the residence of Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in the early hours of yesterday is a sad indicator that we are fast returning to the era of late Sani Abacha when anyone who expressed opinions contrary to government’s position would be fatally attacked.

“Nigerians woke up this morning to the unsavoury news of an attack on the residence of the Yoruba activist, Igboho, in Soka area of Ibadan by armed men reportedly in army and DSS uniforms. DSS is the Directorate of State Security Services, one of the federal government’s security agencies. Reports have it that the invaders came in 15 vehicles with army identity while some of the men wore DSS uniforms. It was also reported that at least seven people were killed while yet unidentified number, including the wife of Sunday Igboho, were abducted and taken away by the invaders. They also destroyed properties running into several millions.

“The attack came less than 72 hours to the plan by Igboho and others to hold a rally in Lagos to further canvass for a Yoruba nation this week’s Saturday (tomorrow).

“The manner of attack indicated culpability on the part of those in authority.

Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) condemned the invasion, describing it as callous, barbaric and worrisome.

It’s leader, Wale Oshun, said Yoruba traditional rulers and political leaders should take a stand on the issue.

He said: “We condemn it in a very strong term. There is no record that Igboho was invited by the police to report. The use of the military for purely civil issue is bound to escalate tension.

“Government and security services should recall how Boko Haram started. It started, following the unlawful killing of their leader, who was under arrest by the police. He did not resist arrest. But, he was killed. It is improper to invade the house of Igboho.

“Police should have gone to his house with a warrant. That was what was done under the military. The military are meant to protect the territorial integrity, and not to meddle in civil affairs. Their work is to fight terrorism and demonstrate effectiveness in restoring security.

“Even, during the military rule, under Gen. Sani Abacha, the military were not directly involved in civil matters. It was the police and SSS that were arresting people, not soldiers. This should end.”

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams frowned at the attack, saying it was a show of death and destruction.

He warned that killing Igboho could lead to another bloodbath and war akin to the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

Adams said: “The attack on Sunday Igboho’s house is most unfortunate. It is a reflection of the fact that our lives as Nigerians are of no value to the government. And the truth is that nobody is safe in this country.

Before the suspension of the proposed Lagos rally by Igboho, the Lagos State Police Command vowed to prevent the rally.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu, in a statement, warned that the command would not allow any rally under whatever guise to take place any where in the state.

According to him, the police were yet to recover from last year’s post #ENDSARS violence, casting a doubt on the claims that the planned protest would be peaceful.

Odumosu said intelligence report available to the police has revealed that a transport union leader in Ibadan, Oyo State, was planning to retaliate the alleged killing of one of his members during the Igboho rally in that state, adding that security agencies in Lagos would not allow any action that could endanger the lives of law abiding residents.

He said: “The Lagos State Police Command hereby warns that no rally will be allowed, under whatever guise, in any part of the state. The Command therefore warns the organisers and their followers against staging the planned rally and stay clear of streets of Lagos for the interest of the state and the general public as anyone caught participating or facilitating the rally will be dealt with within the ambits of the law.”