Soyinka visits Igboho in Benin Republic

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Sunday met with Yoruba Nation campaigner, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Ighoho. A statement issued by Sokinya’s media office in Abuja confirmed the visit, with a picture showing Igboho with the Nobel laureate and leader of Yoruba self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Banji Akintoye.

It could however not be ascertained what transpired at the meeting. This is coming about five weeks after Akintoye announced the release of Ighoho in the Benin Republic.

After being declared wanted by the Department of State Services (DSS), he was accused of stockpiling arms to destabilise Nigeria. But the separatist leader strongly denied the allegation. In July 2021, Igboho fled his Ibadan residence and escaped to the neighbouring Francophone country.

He was arrested by the Interpol at a Benin airport on July 19, 2021, while boarding a flight to Germany.

After spending about nine months in a detention facility in the Benin Republic, Igboho was released on health grounds. But his lead counsel, Yomi Aliyyu, ruled out the possibility of his client’s return to Nigeria anytime soon.