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Some of the followers of wanted Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, on Wednesday, protested to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, demanding the release of the 13 aides of Igboho who were arrested last Thursday when operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) raided the Ibadan residence of Igboho.
The youths also want the government to pay the N500 million damages requested by Igboho’s lawyer for the destruction of his house and property during the invasion.
A representative of the youths, whose name could not be ascertained, made the demands on behalf of the youths at the monarch’s palace.
“You are our father, we do not know any governor or politician and we do not recognise them as our leaders. You are the only leader that we recognise and we know you have the authority to make them meet our demands.
“We want you to tell the DSS to reverse its declaration that Igboho is on its watch list. We want you to tell them to declare that Igboho is no more on its watch list. We want this done within seven days.
“We also give the DSS seven days to release all those arrested during the raid.
“Furthermore, we demand justice on Adogan and Alfa who were killed by DSS operatives during the midnight invasion.
“We give the government seven days to meet our demands or else we will come up with a mass action. We are not afraid of any DSS operative. We speak on behalf of 60 million Yoruba people. If DSS operatives can arrest 60 million Yoruba people, they should come around. We want our demands met within seven days.
“After now, we will march to the palace of all Yoruba monarchs to make our demands known,” the representative said.
Responding on behalf of the Olubadan, his media aide, Adeola Oloko, said: “Igboho is no stranger to the king. The king has heard all your requests and will take the necessary steps as you leave here now. He will call his fellow kings and other stakeholders.”
Earlier, the youths had taken to the streets of Ibadan, the state capital, to protest the raid by the secret police on Igboho’s residence.
The protesters took off from Igboho’s house in Soka area of Ibadan around 11am on Wednesday and marched through the streets,carrying placards with various inscriptions such as: “No retreat, no surrender”, “Oodua Nation,” “Sunday Igboho is not a criminal,” among others.
The DSS had invaded the residence of Igboho in around 1am last Thursday. Though Igboho escaped the raid, his house and cars were riddled with bullets while bloodstains splattered over the floors of the house. The DSS also said it killed two of his associates in a gun duel.
The secret police had since declared Igboho wanted. The activist has been accused of stockpiling weapons to allegedly destabilise the country under the guise of agitation for Yoruba nation but he has since denied the allegation, saying he protects himself with charms and not weapons.