Also, security agencies have warned that they would curtail any form of insecurity, adding that anyone parading himself as a Yoruba Nation agitator should either toe the path of peace or have himself to be blamed.

The warning by the South-West governments and the police came on the heels of an attempt on Saturday by separatist Yoruba Nation agitators to take over the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

According to reports, the agitators, donning army camouflage and armed with rifles, attempted to hoist their flag on the premises of the Oyo State House of Assembly

The attempt was foiled by security agencies with 20 of the agitators arrested.

In May 2023, some Yoruba Nation agitators had also hijacked Radio Nigeria, Amuludun FM 99.1 airwaves in Ibadan for more than one hour before they were overpowered and arrested.

The promoters of the Yoruba Nation are canvassing the breakaway of the Yoruba people from Nigeria.

They argued that Yoruba people have not fared well in Nigeria, arguing that their welfare would be better guaranteed under a separate sovereign entity to be called  he Yoruba Nation.

The agitation has, however, been resisted by the Federal Government, which in 2021 sent the Departmemt of State Services after the Yoruba Nation arrowhead, Sunday Adeyemo, alias Sunday Igboho.

Igboho fled Nigeria in 2021 following a midnight of his Ibadan home in July and was captured and detained in the Benin Republic while attempting to escape to Germany.

The Saturday invasion of the Oyo Government Secretariat sent panic to the residents and road users, especially around Customs, Ikolaba, Awolowo and many other areas within the Ibadan metropolis.

On Sunday, the governments of Osun, Ekiti and Ogun state hinted that they had put security measures in place to forestall a repeat of the Ibadan experience in their domains.

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in a statement on Sunday, said he had directed reinforcement of security around government structures in the state to frustrate any plan to disrupt public peace by suspected Yoruba Nation activists.

Adeleke said he had directed his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Mr Samuel Ojo, “to ensure immediate mobilisation of joint security teams to secure the secretariat, the Government House and other strategic government buildings, including the headquarters of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation.”

He called for a rededication to the ideals of a united Nigeria, with ongoing constitution amendments to ensure a truly federal system in Nigeria, as he urged agitators to join the crusade for the reform of the federal system to ensure adjustments that will give the states more autonomy and responsibilities.

A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said,  “In line with the governor’s directive, security men and women were deployed to identified locations yesterday to ensure the Oyo State incident is not repeated in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

“I associate with my brother, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde. I urge the agitators to sheath their swords. We must continue to try to realise the Nigeria of our dreams. We must support President Bola Tinubu as he drives the federal reform efforts. We have a duty to stand by Mr President in the realisation of this difficult national assignment.”

Also, the spokesman for the Osun State, Yemisi Opalola, told The PUNCH that the command was prepared to stop any act of lawlessness in the state, no matter the status of the perpetrators.

She said, “We are aware of the incident and it sent a signal to us. We are prepared to ensure peace across Osun State. We urge people not to engage in any act of lawlessness as police will not tolerate that from anyone no matter the status.”

Also in Ekiti State, the government said it had put in place machinery that would ensure maintenance of law and order at all times.

The state Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said that the security apparatus in the state had also been well-equipped to curtail any form of insecurity, in addition to the fact that residents were not reckless.

The commissioner, who described the Saturday invasion by the Yoruba Nation agitators of Oyo State Government House as “recklessness and agitation taken too far by any individual, group or pressure group,” said, “In Ekiti, we are not worried. Ekiti is safe and secure, we are peace-loving people and our people are not reckless.

“We are under a federating unit and we have every democratic structure in place to manage the affairs. I know that our people in Ekiti will not engage in such recklessness by any pressure group or individual. Our government has done everything to ensure that we maintain law and order here.

“Every security apparatus is well-equipped to curtail any form of insecurity here. We are okay, we are educated, we are civilised and people are respected within the provision of the constitution of Nigeria to express their opinion without any form of violation or crisis.”

Olatunbosun advised Ekiti residents to go about their duties without any fear, saying, “Our people should feel free and go about their businesses without any fear at all.”

Also speaking, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeniran Akinwale, said there was no need for anybody in the state to entertain any fear over what happened in Oyo State.

Akinwale said, “We (police) are fully on the ground. There is no cause for alarm. No need for people to panic, we are monitoring situations and by the special grace of God, there won’t be any problem.”

According to videos circulating on social media, an unidentified person was allegedly killed during the unrest as agitators and police allegedly clashed at the location where the agitators converged for a mega rally.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the incident, observed that normalcy had been restored with traders and motorists going about their businesses.

Armed policemen and vehicles were also observed close to the Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota.

An aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, tweeted an update on the incident, stating that all was calm at Ojota.

He wrote, “UPDATE: Ojota is calm. OP-MESA and other Police Divisions are fully on ground. People are going about their normal duties, all clear.”

The activists, including Prof Wale Adeniran, also prayed the courts to declare that the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, which are scheduled to be conducted in June and July by the Independent National Electoral Commission, cannot be validly held under the said illegal and invalid constitution.

The Communications Manager, Ilana Omo Oodua, Mr Maxwell Adeleye, said in a statement on Wednesday that the suits were filed by the counsel for the Yoruba Nation agitators, Mr Tolu Babaleye.

The agitators listed the Attorney-General of the Federation and INEC as defendants in the two suits

Apart from Akintoye and Adeniran, an Ado Ekiti-based medical doctor, Chief Bayo Orire, and 15 others are demanding a total decommissioning of the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for a referendum so that the Yoruba people could decide on their nationhood first and foremost.

They argued that the preamble of the constitution claimed that the people of Nigeria solemnly resolved to live together and made the constitution, but that the document was fraudulent and should be declared null and void.

In the event that the above sole issue is resolved in the positive, the claimants prayed the court for the following reliefs:

“A declaration that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is invalid, illegal and of no effect whatsoever by reason of its failure to satisfy the essential requirements of referendum and national consensus expected of a valid constitution.

“A declaration that the preamble/introductory passage to the 1999 Constitution inserted into the constitution by the military government, which says, ‘We the people of Nigeria have resolved to give ourselves a constitution’, is a lie when in the actual fact it was the military government that came up with the document and imposed it on the Nigerian people without any contribution from the Nigerian people; it has, therefore, rendered the constitution illegal, invalid and null and void and of no effect on the grounds of naked lie fraud.

“A declaration that no valid elections, whether presidential, governorship, national and state assembly or councillorship, can be validly held under the said invalid and fraudulent constitution as one cannot build something on nothing in law and expect it to stand.”

The group called on all Yoruba people, especially, self-determination activists in Ekiti and Osun states, to mobilise themselves and ensure that they were present in court in Osogbo and Ado-Ekiti whenever the cases were called for mention

The statement added, “This is a clarion call to our people within and beyond Yoruba land that it is time to jettison our personal interest for the overall interest of our land.History and posterity will never be kind to us if we miss this historic opportunity to salvage our land and restore our stolen nationhood. We must all come out in our large numbers to show solidarity, peacefully and lawfully, in support of this case because a landmark decision awaits the Yoruba people.”

The activist was said to have been released to a leader of the Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Banji Akintoye and a French Language Expert/Deputy leader of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Wale Adeniran.

The umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, announced this in a statement on Monday.

This announced in a statement issued by  Ilana Omo Oodua’s spokesperson, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, titled, ‘Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo Ighoho released to Yoruba leader, Banji Akintoye; French language expert, Adeniran by the Benin Republic Government’.

The statement read, “Yoruba Nation Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Ighoho, has been released by the Government of Republic of Benin.

“The Activist was released on Monday to a Yoruba Leader and Leader of the Umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Banji Akintoye and a French Language Expert/ Deputy Alana of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Wale Adeniran.

“Akintoye described the release of Ighoho as a triumph of truth over darkness in Yorubaland.”

According to Fayemi, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), restructuring remains the best option for Nigerians saying dialogue remains a major pathway to peace and progress.

Speaking as a guest lecturer at the combined ninth and 10th combined Zik Lecture Series at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Fayemi asked the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu and Yoruba Nation led by Sunday Adeyemo to focus on restructuring.

He said, “If separation and secession are not as easy or simple as their proponents imagine, and given that they do not provide any guarantees that a better future can be secured through them, the demands for a national restructuring would seem to me to be worth keeping on the table for deeper consideration,”.

The umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, made this known in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Maxwell Adeleye, attaching images from the scene of the attack.

The organisation noted that the incident happened on Saturday in the Professor’s absence. It also noted that the police had been notified.

Part of the statement read, “The leadership of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), is displeased to inform the general public that the Ado-Ekiti country home of its leader, Professor Banji Akintoye, was attacked on Saturday, 30th October 2021.

“Gunshots were fired into the house by assailants who apparently climbed a chair outside the gate to shoot in. Luckily, Professor Banji Akintoye was not around at the time, and nobody was hurt. Bullets suspected to be from AK 47 rifles were recovered after they dropped from the ceiling onto the floor. The matter has since been reported to the Ekiti State Police Command for investigation.”

Akintoye, a renowned Historian hails from Ado-Ekiti.  He represented the Old Ondo State in the Senate from 1979 to 1983. He is currently leading the agitation for an Independent Yoruba Nation from Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement issued by his counsel, Yomi Aliyu.

Recall that Igboho was recently arrested in Cotonou on his way to Germany after being declared wanted by the Nigerian government.

Igboho who is still in a Benin Republic prison has, however, warned his supporters against staging any protest in his name.

Counsel to Igboho, Yomi Alliyu in a statement on Thursday, informed that Igboho has instructed that no one organise any rally in his name.

He also asked that no one attack any public place or security personnel on the pretence of agitating for the Yoruba nation.

“There is time for everything. Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho Oosa is desirous of respecting those murdered in his house on that black 1st July 2021.

“In that wise, he has advised against staging any demonstration or rally in his name for the time being.

“He will also like people to respect his family by not calling his mum out for anything public. Igboho for now has no authentic mouthpiece anywhere.

“In that wise people are advised to take anything said by anybody claiming to be from him with a pinch of salt.

“Let’s respect the dead. On no account should anybody attack any public place or security personnel on the pretence of agitating for the Yoruba nation.”

Following this defilement, The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja adjourned the suit brought by 12 detained associates on Thursday till Monday, August 2, 2021.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu also ordered that the DSS should grant the lawyer to the detained aides access to his clients.

The counsel to the DSS, I. Awo, informed the court that the DSS has no intention of disobeying the court’s order. However, he stated that there were facts that were necessary for the court to be aware of regarding the matter.

Awo said some of the names on the court order were different from the names of the persons they had arrested on July 1, 2021 at Igboho’s house.

The counsel to the applicants, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that the DSS had given the applicants new names as there are discrepancies in the spelling of their names.

Recall that the suspects had sued the DSS before the Federal High Court Abuja, on grounds that their fundamental human rights had been infringed.

According to him, Igboho has two more stages to undergo before he will be freed.

The law professor, in an interview with BBC Yoruba, complained that the police in the Benin Republic handcuffed the hands of his client five days after his arrest.

The Beninese court adjourned Igboho’s case till Monday after his five lawyers failed to convince the prosecutor that he had no case to answer.

The Beninese authorities have, however, released Ropo, the agitator’s wife, who was arrested with the 48-year-old activist on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin on their way to Germany.

On his part, Igboho was returned to police custody.

The lawyers had said that during the hearing, prosecutors claimed Igboho was on a watchlist for alleged trafficking in arms, inciting violence that could result in social disturbance and causing disunity in Nigeria.

Salami said, “In Benin here, there are three stages (judicial protocol) of trial. The first is with the prosecutor, the second one is with the investigating judge and the third will determine whether he is guilty and should be sentenced or not. The next phase is on Monday. The first phase with the prosecutor has been concluded. When we get to court on Monday, we will be facing the investigation judge, and after that, we will face the judge that will determine whether he should be sentenced or not.”

When asked if the process would end on Monday, he added, “Yes, it will end on Monday. Before the end of Monday, we will know if the Benin Republic government wants to jail or release him. That will be clear on Monday.”

Justice Obirora Egwuatu gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application argued by lawyer to the 12 detainees – Pelumi Olajengbesi.

The Justice had told the court that the 12 aides of Igboho were arrested during DSS’ raid on his house in Ibadan and have been kept incommunicado since then.

Justice Egwuatu also ordered the DSS to show cause why the applicants should not be admitted to bail.

He ordered that in view of the urgency involved in the case, further hearing in the fundamental rights enforcement suit,marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/647/2, filed by the detainees, shall be heard during the court’s vacation.

The case was then adjourned to July 29 to take place during the court vacation.

The detainees are: Abdullateef Ofeyagbe, Amuda Babatunde (alias Lady K), Tajudeen Erinoyen, Diekola Ademola, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Noah, Ayobami Donald, Adelabe Usman, Oluwapelumi Kunle, Raji Kazeem, Taiwo Opeyemi and Bamidele Sunday.