The Federal Government has claimed that Sunday Adeyemo, a Yoruba rights activist popularly known as Sunday Igboho, is trying to obtain a new passport and abscond from Nigeria, a report has revealed.
The government has subsequently placed Igboho on a “stop-list” in a bid to enable security operatives to capture him, a letter by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) dated July 9, has indicated, according to the Punch.
Igoboho has been declared wanted by the DSS on allegations of stockpiling arms to destabilise the country, an allegation which he has since denied
According to the report, the NIS letter was addressed to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The letter was entitled: “Stop-listing of person: Adeyemo Sunday Adeniyi (aka Sunday Igboho), male, Nigerian, passport number A11613637, date of birth 10/10/1972”, was copied to all zonal controllers and control posts nationwide.
It was signed on behalf of the Comptroller General of Immigration by Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration, Investigation and Compliance, A.B. Baba.
The letter read: “I am directed to request that you kindly place the above-named person on stop-list. Credible intelligence revealed that Adeyemo is making efforts to obtain a police extract and/or court affidavit to enable him acquire a new Nigerian passport, apparently to facilitate his escape out of the country.
“In addition, he should be arrested wherever and whenever sighted and referred to the Director-General, Department of State Services vide letter no: S.605/A/246 dated 05 July 2021.”
However, Amos Okpu, NIS spokesperson, was quoted as saying that he is not aware of the letter.
“I’m not aware of the letter. Has Ighoho been declared wanted? Well, I don’t have any information on him,” he was quoted as saying.
The DSS is yet to make a statement on the development.
The house of Igboho in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was invaded by DSS operatives on 1 July in an apparent attempt to arrest him.
He, however, escaped, although two persons were killed and 13 persons were arrested, while arms and ammunition were reportedly retrieved from his residence by the secret agents.
The Yoruba rights activist has, however, remained underground since the raid of his house and his location remains unknown.
