The Department of State Services (DSS) has launched a manhunt for Sunday Igboho, Yoruba activist, after he escaped arrest when they raided his residence in Oyo State.

Igboho, a known Yoruba youth leader, has been agitating for the creation of ‘Yoruba Nation’.

He had planned to hold a rally in Lagos on Saturday to drive home his secessionist objectives, before his house was raided.

Confirming the raid, the Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya on Thursday night said that the raid was based on intelligence that Igboho had stockpiled arms in the place.

According to him, the security agency recovered illegal arms — including seven AK-47 rifles — and thousands of ammunition from Igboho’s house.

He further confirmed that the DSS operatives killed two people at Igboho’s house during a gun duel between the agency and the latter’s supporters.

The agency also paraded 13 supporters of the activist, who allegedly attacked DSS operatives during the raid on Thursday morning.

While urging Igboho to surrender himself to the nearest security agency, Dr Afunanya added that those arrested will be charged to court.

What the DSS spokesman said

“On approach to the residence, the team came under heavy gun attack by nine (9) men, suspected to be Igboho’s guards. Six (6) of them were armed with AK-47 gun and three (3) others, with Pump-Action riffles.”

“In the course of the exchange, two (2) of Igboho’s armed men were gunned down while the rest were subdued and arrested. Only one operative who was shot by the assailants on his right hand sustained injury. He has, however, received medical attention and is very stable.

“This is to inform Nigerians and the world that Sunday Igboho and his group, in the guise of campaign for self-determination, have become well-armed and determined to undermine public order. This, the arrests and seizures are, no doubt, a confirmation of a grand plan by IGBOHO and his cohorts to wage a violent insurrection against the Nigerian State.

“Alert foreign missions and licencing authorities within and outside Nigeria about this development and the possibility that IGBOHO could declare some of his personal permit and identity cards missing in order to seek their replacement.

“Apprise stakeholders that the Five (5) AK-47 assault rifles recovered from the building are suspected to be those collected by IGBOHO’s men from Nigerian Customs and Immigration personnel at Idi Iroko, Ogun State.”

“The gun duel which lasted for an hour offered IGBOHO the chance to escape. Sunday ADEYEMO a.k.a Sunday IGBOHO is now on the run. IGBOHO may run as far as he can. He may hide as long as he wants. He might have attacked security operatives as his strength carried him. But this will be the end of his shenanigans. Soon, he will not have a hiding place. His strength will sure fail him. And the law will catch up with him. The law may be slow. But it will be steady.

“Consequently, ADEYEMO/IGBOHO is advised to turn himself in to the nearest security agency. Those cheering and eulogising him may appeal to or advise him to do the needful. He should surrender himself to the appropriate authorities. He or anyone can never be above the law.

“Meanwhile, those arrested will be charged accordingly.”