DSS denies spying on Sunday Igboho

Nigerian state security has denied the report on social media that its operatives are spying on Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

A video went viral on social media on Friday, showing suspected soldiers on a motorcycle allegedly spying on Igboho at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The military cannot stoop so low to such extent to ‘spy’ on one individual, as wildly and loosely alleged,” Department of State Services spokesman Bernard Onyeuko, said in a statement.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is a highly disciplined and professional organization with extant laws and regulations which guide the actions of its personnel in the conduct of their duties.”

Onyeuko further stated that it is practically impossible for military personnel on official duty to conduct themselves in such manner as alleged by Adeyemo and his cohorts.

“for the records, it should be noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, are highly professional in the discharge of their duties, with well-defined roles, responsibilities and duties in its mandate of securing the territorial integrity of the Nigerian Nation,” Onyeuko said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a preliminary investigation has so far revealed that one of the alleged ‘soldiers’ is a serial impersonator.”

Onyeuko also noted that credible eyewitnesses and sources have also revealed that some associates of Igboho went in pursuit of some individuals when the motorbike conveying the impersonator and one Nigerian Air Force personnel ran into them.

“The duo were immediately apprehended and taken to the said ‘IGBOHO House’ at Soka before Ibadan tollgate where they were branded as spies,” Onyeuko said.

He said investigations are currently underway by Nigerian Airforce and the Nigerian Army to unravel the actual circumstances which played out on the day

In February, security operatives including soldiers, policemen, and men of the DSS, allegedly attempted to arrest Igboho along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The Service also debunked the report.

Igboho gained national popularity earlier in the month after issuing a seven-day ultimatum to herders in Igangan, Ibarapa, Oyo State, to vacate the town.

He accused the herders of being culpable in the strings of kidnappings and killings carried out in and around the town. At the expiration of the ultimatum, Igboho led a group of people who chased the herders out of Igangan.

Igboho and his followers proceeded to eject the Fulani leader of Igangan, Salihu Abdukadir.

He accused the Fulani leader of harbouring criminal herders who were kidnapping and killing residents of the community.

Abdukadir denied the allegations, stating that some members of his community have also been victims of the attacks and kidnappings trailing the community.