There have been street protests in Ibadan in western Nigeria on Wednesday organized by supporters of Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, against his arrest and detention in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Igboho was arrested at an airport in Cotonou on Monday night, and has been held by that country’s authorities since then.
His supporters first gathered in front of Igboho’s house in the Sooka area of Ibadan from where they took to the streets around midday to protest in the capital of Oyo State.
Igboho went underground earlier this month after Nigeria’s Spy Police, the Department of State Service declared him wanted after a night raid on his Sooka residence. The DSS arrested some of Igboho’s aides after a shootout and later displayed a cache of arms and ammunition its operatives seized from his house. He denied the allegation.
He was arrested at an airport in Cotonou, along with his wife, a German national, on their way to Germany.
There have been reports that the Nigerian government wants to repatriate him back to the country.
His supporters in Ibadan were heard singing the Yourba Nation anthem and chanting “Igboho Oosa”, “Free Igboho now now”.
They also carried placards, some of which read: “I stand with Chief Sunday Igboho”; “Sunday Igboho is not a criminal”; “Yoruba wake up” and “Sunday Igboho is fighting for our freedom”
