Yoruba Nation campaigner, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has offered a detailed account of how he evaded arrest during the Department of State Services (DSS) raid on his Soka residence in Ibadan in July 2021.
Speaking while receiving a delegation of Muslim leaders at his Ibadan residence on Monday, July 27, 2026, Igboho insisted he remained hidden inside the house throughout the violent operation without being detected, dismissing long-standing rumors that he used mystical powers to transform into a cat.
Key Highlights of Igboho’s Account
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Midnight Dynamite Assault: Igboho stated that operatives arrived at approximately 1:30 a.m., opened fire after hearing his voice, and detonated explosives on the burglary proofing to blow open an entrance into the building.
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The Decision Not to Surrender: Unclothed when the raid began, Igboho quickly put on jeans and a shirt while debating whether to give himself up. Fearing he would be executed on sight, he opted to remain hidden inside.
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Rejection of ‘Cat Transformation’ Rumors: The activist flatly debunked claims that he metamorphosed into a cat to escape, alleging instead that operatives shot a cat on the premises after mistaking it for him.
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Allegations of Rituals and Deception: Igboho claimed he watched secretly as security officers brought in a “fake herbalist” to perform incantations inside his compound in an attempt to locate him.
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Coercion & Casualties: He alleged that operatives held a gun to the head of his personal assistant, Dudu, forcing him to call for Igboho to open the door. He also noted that a partially blind relative was shot during the confusion after being mistaken for an attacker.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2021 DSS IBADAN RAID CONTEXT MATRIX │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Event Date : Midnight of July 1, 2021 │
│ │
│ • Location : Soka Residence, Ibadan, Oyo State │
│ │
│ • Official Allegation: DSS claimed raid recovered illegal firearms, │
│ ammunition, and tactical equipment. │
│ │
│ • Igboho's Stance : Remained inside premises undetectable; allegations │
│ and mystical escape claims are entirely false. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
(Sources: Ibadan Media Briefings & Official Statements)
“They Couldn’t See Me”
Reflecting on the early morning assault, Igboho maintained that he observed the entire operation unfold from within the residence without being spotted:
“I didn’t turn into a cat. They even killed it, thinking it was me. They brought a fake herbalist who was just making incantations and performing a ritual. I was inside the house watching them, but they didn’t see me… One mind was telling me to surrender to them; the other was telling me not to surrender, else I would be killed.” — Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho)
The raid on Igboho’s home in July 2021 marked a major flashpoint in Southwestern security operations, resulting in the arrest of 13 of his associates and the deaths of two aides during an exchange of gunfire. Following his eventual departure from Nigeria, Igboho was detained in Benin Republic before being released after legal proceedings.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
