DSS confirms raid on Igboho’s home, kills two, arrest many

Etim Ekpimah

The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed invasion of Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemi, aka, Sunday Igboho house in Ibadan.

The DSS said that in the early hours (about 0134 hours) of Thursday, 1st July, 2021, a joint team of security operatives raided the residence of Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, a.k.a. Sunday Igboho at Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State.

A statement signed by the DSS Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunamya, National Headquarters, Abuja, said the invasion was based on intelligence that he (Igboho) had stockpiled arms in the place.

The statement said the officials on approaching the residence, the team came under heavy gun attack by nine men, suspected to be Igboho’s guards.

Six of the men were said to be armed with AK-47 gun and three others, with Pump-Action rifles.

“In the course of the exchange, two of Igboho’s armed men were gunned down while the rest were subdued and arrested.

“Only one operative who was shot by the assailants on his right hand sustained injury. He has, however, received medical attention and is very stable.

“Afterwards, the team procedurally searched the house and subsequently recovered the following among others: Seven (7) AK-47 assault rifles; three pump action guns; 30 fully charged AK-47 magazines; 5,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition;  five cutlasses, one jack knife, one pen knife; two pistol holsters; one binoculars and wallet containing  $5 in one denomination; local and international driver’s licences in his name, ATM cards, a German residence permit No. YO2N6K1NY bearing his name; two  whistles; 50 cartridges; 18 Walkie-Talkies; three Voodoo charm jackets/traditional body armour;  two laptops (one Toshiba and one Compaq; and his International Passport and those of many others (as displayed here).

“Further exploitation and forensic analysis are ongoing,” the statement added.

Aside the items recovered from the building, about 13 suspects including 12 males and one female were arrested and brought to Abuja. While one suspect is being profiled, the other 12 paraded here are: Abdulateef OFEYAGBE; Amoda BABATUNDE aka Lady K (female); Tajudeen ERINOYEN; Diakola ADEMOLA; Abideen SHITTU; Jamiu NOAH; Ayobami DONALD; Adelabe USMAN; Oluwafelumi KUNLE; Raji KAZEEM; Taiwo OPEYEMI, and Bamidele SUNDAY.

According to the statement, the highlights of the briefing are to inform Nigerians and the world that Sunday Igboho and his group, in the guise of campaign for self-determination, have become well-armed and determined to undermine public order.

He said: “This, the arrests and seizures are, no doubt, a confirmation of a grand plan by Igboho and his cohorts to wage a violent insurrection against the Nigerian State.

“Alert foreign missions and licencing authorities within and outside Nigeria about this development and the possibility that Igboho could declare some of his personal permit and identity cards missing in order to seek their replacement.

“Apprise stakeholders that the five AK-47 assault rifles recovered from the building are suspected to be those collected by Igboho’s men from Nigerian Customs and Immigration personnel at Idi Iroko, Ogun State.

“The gun duel which lasted for an hour offered Igboho the chance to escape. Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Sunday Igboho is now on the run. Igboho may run as far as he can. He may hide as long as he wants. 

“He might have attacked security operatives as his strength carried him. But this will be the end of his shenanigans. Soon, he will not have a hiding place. His strength will surely fail him. And the law will catch up with him. The law may be slow, but it will be steady.

“Consequently, Adeyemo/Igboho is advised to turn himself in to the nearest security agency. Those cheering and eulogising him may appeal to or advise him to do the needful. He should surrender himself to the appropriate authorities. He or anyone can never be above the law.

“Meanwhile, those arrested will be charged accordingly.”