Yoruba nation campaigner, Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has expressed readiness to work with the Federal Government to combat banditry and violent crime in forests across the South-West.
Speaking in Ibadan on Friday, the activist said he and his supporters were prepared to assist security agencies, but stressed that any action would depend on approval and cooperation from the government.
“I need the support of the Federal Government to strengthen security in the South-West. If we are given approval and backing, I am ready to enter the forests with my team to flush out terrorists troubling our rural communities,” he said.
Igboho noted that his group could not act independently without official clearance.
“We cannot do anything without the government’s consent. But with support and coordination, we have the capacity and manpower to help restore peace in affected areas,” he added.
The activist’s latest comments signal a softer tone compared to his earlier confrontations with federal authorities.
His Ibadan residence was raided in 2021 by security operatives over allegations of illegal arms possession, leading to arrests and casualties among his aides.
He later fled Nigeria and was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while attempting to travel to Germany. After more than a year in detention, he regained freedom in March 2022.
Following his return to Nigeria in January 2026, Igboho met with traditional rulers, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, and acknowledged the role played by monarchs such as the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in facilitating his homecoming.
He also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to formally clear his name and allow him to contribute to regional security efforts.
Call for dialogue in South-East crisis
Beyond security in the South-West, Igboho urged the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to prioritise negotiation with the Federal Government to resolve his legal situation.
He commended Kanu’s reported decision to cancel the long-running Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East, describing it as a step toward restoring economic and social stability.
“Ending the weekly shutdown is a thoughtful move that can help the region recover. Dialogue and mediation with the Federal Government remain the best path to break the current deadlock,” the statement said.
