Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, has said the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State was politically motivated. 

Mr Adeyemo, who spoke on Thursday at his Ibadan residence during a visit by the National Association of Nigerian Students leadership led by Akinteye Afeez, threatened to expose the politicians behind kidnappings and killings in the South-West soon.

“If they allow me to face these people (terrorists), these people will run away. This is not about pride. These people are not spirits. They are human beings like us. They only have the backing of some politicians. They supply them money and ammunition. And I have been saying it, if those politicians don’t stop, I’ll expose them. I will name them for the world to see.”

The activist further alleged sponsors of kidnappings in the region were hellbent on destabilising President Bola Tinubu’s administration just as they did to former President Goodluck Jonathan. 

He added, “They are trying to do what they did to Goodluck Jonathan to President Bola Tinubu. It is all game. It is all politics. Because if it’s not politics, we asked to face the terrorists that kidnapped schoolchildren in Oyo but they said no. Why no? I volunteered with my people to go there (forest) but they didn’t give us the go-ahead. Leave the terrorists to shoot us. At a point, the Fulani threatened to kill the children if I made any attempt to rescue them. No problem.”

Accusing Governor Seyi Makinde of preventing him from intervening in the security challenges in Oyo State, Mr Adeyemo insisted that the region had the capacity to fight terrorists if the government shows genuine readiness.

“How can you tell me that Nigeria can’t handle the terrorists in the bush? If they want us to chase the terrorists away, we’ll. Because the South-West belongs to us. I am not asking for money; I just volunteered to chase these people away.

“Governor Seyi Makinde knows that I can support him on what’s happening. Why did he fail to send to me? I arranged the Iru Ekun Security Network. While the federal government gave me the opportunity, the state governor said he didn’t allow anything beyond what he does security-wise. They said I was tackling the government,” he said.

Mr Adeyemo urged the youth in the region to unite against banditry and kidnapping, insisting the ongoing situation was schemed to score cheap political points.

“I know that it is all politics. The youth must get ready because of the coming generations of our children. You’re the leaders of tomorrow and you should understand that it’s a game. It is a politics. Everyone knows what I went through some years ago.

“I know the situation is political. So the people have to cooperate. Look at all these years, Nigeria isn’t better yet. Things are just getting worse. When Buhari was there, who protested in the North? The #EndSARS was limited to Lagos and the East. So you’re telling me not to support Tinubu to spend eight years just because of politics. I can’t never do that,” the activist added.

Mr Adeyemo’s statement to dislodge terrorists occupying forests in the South-West came months after he returned to Nigeria from exile on January 26, 2026, following the removal of his name from the Federal Government’s list of wanted persons. 

The activist’s return to Nigeria was facilitated by prominent traditional rulers, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, among others who appealed to Mr Tinubu on his behalf.

The Yoruba Nation agitator fled Nigeria on July 1, 2021, after a raid on his Ibadan residence by officers of the State Security Service and the Nigerian Army over allegations of stockpiling arms and ammunition. 

The activist was declared wanted, denied a Nigerian passport and his bank accounts frozen under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, despite court rulings in his favour.