Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Yoruba Nation advocate Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has declared that his private security outfit, Iru Ekun, will continue its operations against suspected kidnappers and armed criminal groups across South-West states, despite a recent ambush that left several of its operatives injured. Igboho made the declaration in a video message released on Sunday, June 28, 2026, where he dismissed widespread rumours regarding his well-being, assuring supporters that he was safe and in good health, while confirming that the injured operatives had fully recovered from their wounds. “I greet you, my fathers and mothers. It’s your son, Sunday Igboho. My brothers and sisters all over the world, today is the 28th of June, 2026. Rumours have been circulating, but I want to use this opportunity to assure all my loved ones across the world that I am safe. Those who sustained injuries have now recovered. We will not relent until those disturbing the peace of our land are driven out,” he said.
The ambush occurred when members of the Iru Ekun security outfit were on a mission to track suspected kidnappers and other armed criminals believed to be operating within the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State. The team had deployed surveillance drones to identify suspected criminal hideouts and monitor the movement of armed groups before advancing into the area. Sources said the operatives entered the forest through the Igbeti axis when they encountered two young men in an unusual location deep inside the reserve. The suspects fled immediately after sighting the security team, prompting operatives to pursue them. According to a member of the team who participated in the mission, the situation quickly escalated into a fierce gun battle after heavily armed men, believed to be members of cross-border criminal networks, opened fire on the operatives. One team member was shot, with five bullets entering his leg, while several other operatives sustained minor injuries. Police officers attached to the team administered first aid before the injured members were evacuated from the forest for treatment.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns across parts of Oyo State, particularly communities surrounding the Old Oyo National Park, which has repeatedly featured in reports of kidnappings and attacks carried out by armed groups operating within remote sections of the park and adjoining forests. The latest fears were heightened following the abduction of over 40 schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026. The victims remain in captivity, and the mass abduction and killing of one of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, who was beheaded in captivity, sparked outrage and renewed concerns about deteriorating security around schools and rural communities in Oyo State.
Despite the attack, Igboho maintained that the operation had not weakened the group’s determination, insisting that efforts to rid the region of criminal elements would continue. “We will not rest until we ensure that those disturbing the peace of our land depart,” he said. The activist’s latest statement also came amid his recent criticism of some Fulani leaders over the wave of kidnappings and violent crimes affecting parts of Oyo State. Igboho had earlier demanded the release of abducted victims in Igboho town and warned that communities would continue to resist criminal activities threatening residents across the region. His comments followed growing public frustration over recurring kidnappings, particularly in communities bordering forests stretching across Oyo and neighbouring states.
Igboho rose to national prominence in January 2021 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari after issuing an ultimatum to suspected criminal herders in parts of Ibarapa, Oyo State, accusing them of killings, kidnappings and attacks on farming communities. Since then, he has remained a polarising figure, with supporters hailing his efforts to combat insecurity while critics have accused him of fuelling ethnic tensions. The latest incident has once again brought attention to the growing role of community-based security initiatives in filling the gaps left by overstretched state security forces, even as questions persist about the sustainability and legality of such private armed groups operating in Nigeria’s increasingly insecure rural landscape.
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