The residence of Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba activist and prominent agitator for the independence of the Yoruba nation was reportedly attacked by gunmen.
The yet-to-be-identified gunmen who adorned Nigerian military camouflage stormed the Ibadan residence of the separatist leader in the early hours of Thursday, July 1, 2021.
In a live feed captured by the media page of Igboho’s spokesperson, Mr. Olayomi Koiki, which has been viral on social media, it could be observed that even though Igboho was not at home at the time of the incident, the attack was carried with destruction in mind.
While his properties and furniture, including, his vehicles – a G-wagon and a Prado jeep – suffered a certain degree of damage, ranging from the shattered windscreen to bullet holes, a serious amount of bloodstain could be seen on the floor of the sitting room.
At the time of this report, it is not clear whose blood was on the floor of the house as captured by the live video, however, it has been widely reported that seven persons were killed and Sunday Igboho’s wife was abducted during the invasion with her whereabouts still unknown.
This is coming, just hours after the federal government announced that they have rearrested the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Several online media have reported that the attack was carried out by the Nigerian military because of the army uniform worn by the unknown assailants however, the Nigerian Army has since distanced itself from the incident at the home of Sunday Igboho.
In his reaction, the leader of the Umbrella Body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), Prof Banji Akintoye, in a statement said the attack was carried out by the Nigerian Army.
“This is an emergency response to an emergency matter by Ilana Omo Oodua. Around 1am today Thursday 1st July 2021, the Ibadan, Oyo State Residence of one of the leading men in our struggle for Self-Determination in Yoruba Land, Chief Sunday Adeyemo fondly called Sunday Igboho was unfortunately attacked by gunmen.
“I want to say to the whole world that the attack was carried out by the elements of the Nigerian Army who were accompanied by International Terrorists hired by the Nigerian State.
“The assailants spoke the French language fluently. Seven people were killed by the attackers, with their corpses were taken away. Scores of people, including the wife of Chief Igboho, were also taken away by the gunmen.
“Let me state without any fear or intimidation that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was responsible for the war that has just been declared against the peace-loving people of Yoruba land.
“We have been peaceful since the inception of this struggle. We have adhered to both the Nigerian and International laws guiding the agitation for self-determination.
“All our agitations have been peaceful, orderly, and lawfully executed. We have commended the officers of the Nigerian Police many time for being professional in their modus of operations in relating to our protests and rallies for Self-Determination in Yoruba Cities.
“Therefore, I say on behalf of the Yoruba people that this attack on Chief Igboho’s house was unnecessary, unfortunate, wicked, callous, cruel, irresponsible, illegal, and atrocious.
“We are holding the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration responsible for this barbaric attack. This is a declaration of war against peace-loving people.
“I call on our people across at home and in the diaspora to immediately begin mass protests in front of palaces in Yoruba land, and opposite the offices of the United Nations, European Union, British, French and United States Governments.
“We want to confirm again that the Pro-Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 3rd, in Lagos will proceed as scheduled.”
Nigeria’s image isn’t worth protecting when school children are being kidnapped – Davido
In a new interview on the BBC, multi-award-winning superstar Davido explained why he chose to use his platform to bring global attention to the kidnapping of school children around the country.
During his performance on one of the side events at the ongoing FIFA World Cup hosted in Mexico, the United States of America, and Canada, Davido wore a jacket with the names of the school kids from the Oyo Kidnapping pinned all over the black leather jacket
Davido’s choice of outfit and activism generated both criticism and praise, with some commending him for using his platform to amplify the plight of Nigerians confronting record levels of insecurity. Other critics, including popular Hausa praise singer Dauda Adamu Kahutu, popularly known as Rarara, accused Davido of a lack of patriotism for airing the country’s dirty laundry on the global stage.
The award-winning star, however, doesn’t agree with the idea of protecting the country’s image. According to him, there’s no image to protect when school kids are being kidnapped.
A lot of people don’t really want to talk about what goes on in my country (Nigeria) simply because they want to protect the image, but there’s no image to protect if the little kids are being kidnapped,” Davido said, strongly communicating his stance.
As much as I was happy to do the World Cup, we also have to understand that things are going on back home in our country, which we have the power to let the world know through our own means. My own means is music and performances, so I used my platform to project what is going on.”
Davido’s decision to use the World Cup stage for his activism continues his trend of joining his voice to echo Nigeria’s sociopolitical crisis. During the famous ENDSARS protest against police brutality and corruption in 2020, he took part in the protest, and his smash hit record ‘FEM’ became the unofficial anthem.
As Nigerians at home and in the diaspora continue to await the return of the school children and teachers of the Orile kidnapping in Oyo, Davido and other celebrities are speaking up on the rising insecurity and economic hardship across the country.
67-year-old Nigerian grandma arrested with 13kg cocaine hidden in plantain peels
NDLEA has arrested 67-year-old Nigerian grandmother Mary Yetunde Barek after allegedly discovering 13kg of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain peels in her luggage at Lagos airport. Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested her after allegedly discovering 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain peels packed among food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
According to the NDLEA, Barek, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 on Sunday, June 28, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said a detailed search of the suspect’s luggage uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine ingeniously packaged to resemble hands of plantain.
The drug, weighing a total of 13 kilograms, had been carefully concealed among other food items in what investigators described as one of the more sophisticated concealment methods recently uncovered at the airport.
Babafemi said the fake plantain peels were designed to closely resemble real plantains in an apparent attempt to evade airport screening and security checks.
According to him, the suspect admitted ownership of the cocaine during interrogation.
“A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms,” Babafemi said.
“In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits.”
The arrest formed part of a series of nationwide anti-narcotics operations announced by the NDLEA on Sunday.
In a related operation, the agency arrested 45-year-old Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a PhD student at the University of Putra Malaysia, over an attempt to export 5.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nollywood Veteran Hanks Anuku captured roaming the streets of Abuja
A viral video showing veteran Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku on a roadside in Abuja has sparked concern among Nigerians on social media. The footage, believed to have been recorded recently, shows the 64-year-old actor appearing distressed, holding a disposable cup and seemingly talking to himself. Some social media users speculated that he may have been under the influence of alcohol, though this remains unconfirmed.
Sharing the clip online, eyewitnesses appealed for support, writing:
“Please Nigerians, Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku needs our help. Please repost and share so he can get help.” The video has generated mixed reactions, with some expressing concern for the actor’s well-being, while others urged the public not to jump to conclusions.
One user said, “He made his choice. Donate for him and he will still visit his drugs and drinks. Best advice na the one wey person advice himself.”
Several fans called on his fellow actors and the Nigerian Actors Guild to provide the actor with the necessary medical and financial support.\
Anuku previously made headlines in November 2022 after a viral video showed him dressed in worn-out clothing while wandering the streets, prompting widespread speculation about his mental health. The actor later dismissed claims that he was battling mental illness. However, this latest video shows concerns over the state of his mental health and well-being.
During his time in Nollywood, Hanks Anuku was known for playing the archetypal bad-boy role, which earned him fame through his performances in movies like ‘The Senator.’ The actor’s current situation sheds light on the issues confronting movie stars and other celebrities who often battle with depression and financial crisis after leaving the limelight.
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