Agbekoya Farmers’ Association says it will use magical powers to free Sunday Igboho from detention

YORUBA agricultural producers cooperative the Agbekoya Farmers’ Association officials have vowed to use tradition magical powers to free Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho from detention in the Republic of Benin if he is not freed soon.

Mr Adeyemo fled Nigeria after his Ibadan home was raided by security forces on July 1, where they killed two of his aides and arrested a further 13. He subsequently turned up in Benin Republic but was arrested at Cotonou airport while he was trying to board a plane to Germany and is currently being charged with an array of immigration offences.

Nigeria is desperately trying to get Mr Igboho extradited but his lawyers are fighting it and while the legal battle rages, he remains in detention. However, speaking at a rally in Oshogbo,. the Osun State capital, Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola, the Agbekoya president, warned that action may be taken as Mr Igboho is not criminal but a freedom fighter who is being held illegally through the influence of Nigerian government.

Chief Okikiola said: “Sunday Igboho is not a criminal and we know he is being held illegally.  Benin Republic's government has stopped taking him to court, hence, we demand that he should be released through legal means.

"However, if they refuse, we will use our magical powers to get him out of the prison. I repeat, we Agbekoya, will get him out of Benin Republic detention and bring him back home."

On the Nigeria socio-economic situation, Chief Okikiola called for a reversal to the 1960 constitution or restructure the country before the 2023 general elections, adding that without such step the country will not progress, irrespective of who is elected as president. He decried the spate of insecurity across the country, warning of the grave consequences of taking the masses for granted.

 “The federal government  may decide to hold the election without listening to the yearnings of Nigerians on restructuring but we are of the view that whoever is elected would not achieve anything under the present constitutional arrangement. It is also pertinent to add that politicians should stop taking Nigerians for granted because the consequences, with time, will be too enormous for the country to remain together again," Chief  Okikiola added.

In addition, he also advocated for constitutional roles for traditional rulers, saying it would help check insecurity in rural areas. Agbekoya's rally was attended by delegates from across the southwest geo-political zone who carried banners calling on their governors to save Yorubaland from invasion of bandits, kidnappers, ritualists and rapists.