“Trusted Friend Betrayed Me, Revealed Cat to DSS” – Sunday Igboho

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has claimed that a trusted associate betrayed him during the July 2021 invasion of his Ibadan home by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). Speaking during a weekend visit to the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, in Ondo State, Igboho alleged that the betrayal led to the killing of his cat during the raid, which he described as a direct attempt on his life.

He recounted that the DSS gained access to his residence through his Personal Assistant, who was forced to reveal his room. According to him, a close ally had tipped off the operatives about his cat. “When my house was invaded, they wanted to kill me but failed. They fired guns at me very well but the prayers of you my fathers on me were answered. When I opened the door, they saw my cat on the bed. One of my friends that I entrusted with secret had told them not to let the cat go. So they killed the cat and wrapped it with clothes like a corpse,” he said.

The midnight raid, which left two people dead and destroyed property, drew widespread condemnation at the time from prominent Nigerians, including Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, as well as various socio-political groups, who accused the government of abusing state power. Igboho, who was later arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while attempting to flee, appealed to the monarch to intervene on his behalf, urging him to persuade President Bola Tinubu to secure his freedom. “Tinubu is your son, you can convince him to free me. I would have entered the bush and faced them \[insecurity],” he pleaded.

In response, Oba Ogunoye described Igboho as a symbol of hope for Yoruba youths and encouraged him to continue to abide by the law while pursuing his cause.