Hundreds of youths stormed major streets in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday and staged peaceful protests against the arrest of the Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, in Cotonou, Benin Republic on Monday night.
The protesting youths took off from the frontage of Sunday Ighobo’s house in Soka, through to Felele, to Challenge area, and to the Music House, housing the Fresh FM on Lagos bypass of Challenge, before they returned to their take-off point.
The inscriptions on the placards they carried, included: “Free Ighobo now. I stand with Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho Oosa”, “Chief Sunday is fighting for freedom. No going back. Chief Sunday is fighting for freedom,” “Alaanu Talika, kinni Sunday she? E beru Olorun. Idajo yin de tan. E fi Ighobo sile!!!”, “Igboho is not a criminal, I stand with Igboho.” But the shout of ‘Igboho Oosa rented the atmosphere as they thronged Ibadan streets.
It was also gathered that some Yoruba people residing in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, staged a peaceful protest in the nation’s court, where it was believed that Igboho would be taken to on Wednesday for hearing of the case on whether he should be extradited to Nigeria or he should be granted asylum.
Igboho was arrested at Cotonou Airport on Monday night, with his wife on their way to Germany. REPORTERS AT LARGE gathered that he had already beaten the security and was on his way to board when it was discovered that it is Igboho. He was told that he could not board. Then, he reportedly left without being noticed by security. The travel agent that booked the flight for him was said to have called Igboho that the matter had been resolved and that he should come back. He was arrested when he returned to the airport.
The protest in Cotonou was made known by a video clip posted by Olayomi Koiki, Igboho’s media aide, on his Facebook wall. In the video CT, the Yoruba in Cotonou sang solidarity songs as they demanded freedom for Igboho. The protesters also advocated an independent nation for the Yoruba people.
According to them, Benin Republic has a solid justice system and that they have confidence in the judiciary of the country, adding that the justice system would free Igboho at last.
