Yoruba Nation leader, Prof. Banji Akintoye flees Nigeria, joins Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic

One of the main proponents of the Yoruba Nation group, Prof. Banjo Akintoye, has reportedly fled Nigeria to Benin Republic over reported plot to arrest him.

It was gathered that Prof. Akintoye fled to Benin Republic ostensibly to escape arrest. It was gathered that security agencies have been planning to arrest him even before the raid on the residence of fellow Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, otherwise called Sunday Igboho.

It can be recalled that Igboho’s residence was raided around 1am on July 1, 2021 by operatives of the Department of State Security Services, DSS, before he was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic on July 19, 2021.

DSS operatives killed two of Igboho’s men and arrested about 12 others during the bloody raid. Igboho, who narrowly escaped, was declared wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms to destabilise Nigeria under the pretext of Yoruba Nation.

86-year old Akintoye left Nigeria 3 months ago after getting whiff of the plot to arrest him. A source privy to details of the matter told Punch;

“It is true that the Federal Government wants to arrest him (Akintoye), they want to intimidate him and detain him.”

“There were plans to pick him up and intimidate him and put him behind bars in an attempt to kill the struggle but the plot was uncovered and he left. He didn’t step out of Nigeria for more than five years before he left some three months back when the plot to arrest him was uncovered.”

“But what has Baba done if not only that he is agitating for Yoruba Nation? He is agitating for the sovereignty of Yoruba Nation which is a fundamental human right. They want to charge him for treason. But it is not a crime to ask for self-determination or dissolution of a country. Baba is not hiding; he left Nigeria for Republic of Benin months back. He is not hiding, but you need to be faster than your enemies,”