Self-acclaimed Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, has finally returned to Nigeria almost three years after he fled the country for the Republic of Benin.
Olayomi Koiki who is Igboho’s spokesman, in a statement which was sent to Africa Today News, New York on Friday confirmed that the Yoruba Nation activist was in the country for his mother’s burial which is scheduled to take place in Igboho and Ibadan.
In a video posted online, Mr Adeyemo was sighted waving to residents of Igboho town as he entered the town for his mother’s final funeral rites.
His mother died while he was incarcerated in the Benin Republic in 2023.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that Igboho left Nigeria in 2021 following a bloody confrontation between his aides and DSS operatives who stormed his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Sunday Igboho, who agitates for independence for the ethnic Yoruba people mostly in southwestern Nigeria, eloped to the Benin Republic after he was declared wanted by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Read Also: ECOWAS Court Orders Benin Govt To Pay Igboho, 20m CFA
The separatist leader was detained in Benin Republic in October 2021 while trying to fly to Germany.
The West African country had charged him with “associating with criminals”.
He, however, regained his freedom recently after two years in a Beninese prison.
Two years ago, his lawyer, Ibrahim Salami, confirmed that Igboho had been given a conditional release for medical treatment but not allowed to leave the country.
Igboho had earlier thanked Benin President Patrice Talon and a former Nigerian president as well as Nobel prize winner Wole Soyinka for their support.
Recall that the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), sitting in Abuja had a fortnight ago ordered the government of the Republic of Benin to pay Igboho, a sum of 20 million CFA for unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental human rights.