Human Rights Outcry: Soyinka Accuses Government Of Criminality In Igboho Case

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has strongly condemned the July 1, 2021, raid on the Ibadan residence of Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, carried out by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Soyinka expressed his views in a video shared by Igboho’s media aide, Olayomi Koiki, insisting that the Federal Government owes the activist a public apology.

He criticized the violent dawn operation at Igboho’s Soka home, calling it an unjustifiable assault that resulted in the loss of human lives. The raid led to the killing of two aides and the arrest of 13 supporters, which Soyinka described as a blatant abuse of state power.

The DSS justified the operation by alleging that Igboho was stockpiling arms—a claim the activist has repeatedly denied. The arrested individuals were later paraded and firearms supposedly recovered from the residence displayed, sparking widespread controversy, particularly in the South-West.

Soyinka urged the Federal Government to acknowledge responsibility for the raid and publicly apologize to Igboho and the victims’ families. He emphasized that government security agencies should prioritize tackling widespread insecurity in the country instead of targeting individuals engaged in peaceful activism.

“My advice is not so much to Igboho but to the government: they should stop treating this person as a criminal because the state has already acted in a criminal fashion against him,” Soyinka said.

He warned that if Igboho were brought to trial, the government could face serious embarrassment. Soyinka suggested that authorities should admit their mistake, let Igboho return home safely, and allow him to resume his life quietly.

Commenting on reports that Igboho is in hiding, Soyinka clarified that the activist likely went underground to protect himself while continuing his mission to defend his people. “I am not speaking about the secessionist angle, but his efforts to protect his community and remind aggressors that they are not above the law,” Soyinka said.

He concluded that it is ultimately up to Igboho to decide how to respond, noting, “He knows the circumstances, what happened before his people were killed, and only he can make that decision. I cannot advise him.”