By Ebere Inyama
(Ibadan, Oyo state) Sunday Adeyemo, alias “Igboho,” has urged the Nigerian government to speed up approval for the operation of his proposed security outfit, “Iru Ekun Security Network,” aimed at flushing out Fulani terrorists from the forests in Southwest Nigeria.
Igboho made the request in a statement released on Tuesday 19 May, 2026, following the abduction of 39 school children and 7 teachers in Oyo State by armed terrorists.
“I’m only awaiting the approval of the government to tackle growing insecurity ravaging the Southwest headlong,” Igboho wrote in the statement.
Earlier in April, 2026, Igboho visited the traditional ruler of Kabba in Kogi state, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, where he claimed that Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinibu instructed him to mobilize 50,000 people who would assist him in his proposed fight against terrorists.
Armed Fulani militants, previously confined to Nigeria’s northwest, are now infiltrating the Southwest, transforming peaceful towns into conflict zones and establishing forest strongholds from where they carry out abductions, and issue threats of territorial conquest, according to an earlier report by TruthNigeria.
Who is Sunday Igboho?
Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, alias “Sunday Igboho,” a native of Igboho town in Oyo State, first achieved some national notoriety in March 2021, when he called for the creation of an independent Yoruba republic.
But he gained social media attention in January 2021, when he reportedly gave an ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen to vacate the six states of soutwest Nigeria, including Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Lagos and Ondo states.
Armed with charms and guns, Igboho invaded the Fulani settlement in Ibadan in January 2021 and forcefully ejected their leader, the Sarkin Fulani and his family. He accused the Fulani residents of being behind the series of kidnapping incidents and killings in the Southwest.
Igboho’s action against the Sarkin Fulani and his family was hailed by members of the Yoruba community and this instantly transformed him into a hero of sorts in Yorubaland, according to Weekend Trust.
Igboho vs Nigerian government
Accused of “inciting ethnic hatred and stockpiling illegal weapons”, Sunday ‘Igboho’ is seen by his opponents as “a dangerous rabble rouser”, according to BBC News.
Few days after the eviction of Fulani herders from Oyo state, the Department of State Services (DSS) raided Igboho’s residence in Ibadan, Oyo state and allegedly recovered seven AK 47 rifles, pump action guns and 5,000 rounds of ammunition.
The then spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunnaya, said the weapons were recovered from Igboho’s apartment after a “hot gun duel between them and Igboho’s guards” which resulted in the killing of two of Igboho’s men.
Journey to exile and return to Nigeria
After a failed assassination attempt on his life, Igboho reportedly attempted to fly from Nigeria to Germany but was arrested at Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic and accused of hatching a grand plan to wage a violent insurrection against the Nigerian state.
He subsequently was detained in a prison in the Benin Republic.
After nearly 2 years in Beninese prison, Igboho secured his freedom and moved on to Germany where he stayed until his return to Nigeria in February, 2024, following a Presidential Pardon granted him by President Bola Tinibu.
Nigerian Army considers partnership with Igboho
Following the pledge by Sunday Igboho to assist security agents in flushing the forests in Southwest of armed Fulani militants, spokesman of the Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, gave his commendation.
“I have not seen the video where he made that statement”, Buba said, referring to Sunday Igboho’s pledge.
“If what he said is to make the situation better, he is welcomed,” Buba added.
Reactions by Nigerians
Whereas the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) claims that the Presidential pardon of Igboho by Tinibu is a grave miscarriage of justice, residents in Oyo state who spoke to TruthNigeria see Sunday Igboho as a hero.
“For some years now, Fulani herdsmen have been giving us sleepless nights”, said Funmilayo, a resident of Ibadan, Oyo state to TruthNigeria.
“They have camped in our forests from where they launch attacks, abducting people for ransom”, she continued.
“The Nigerian security forces seem to be helpless over the situation. So, I welcome the proposal made by Igboho, and I pray that President Tinibu will do the needful”, Funmilayo added.
Also responding to questions from TruthNigeria, a student of Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo state, who gave his name as Kayode, said “the best option for the Nigerian government would be to give Sunday Igboho a chance to save the Yorubas from the killer herdsmen before it is too late.”
Ebere Inyama is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
