Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Operatives of the Iru Ekun Security Network, the private security outfit founded by Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho, have arrested several suspected bandits and kidnappers following a fierce gun battle in a bush in Ibadan, Oyo State. The operation, which took place on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, was part of the group's ongoing efforts to flush out criminal elements from forests across the South-West.
According to the group, the suspects opened fire during the operation, but the vigilantes overpowered them and made the arrests. The arrests were confirmed in a video shared by Igboho's team, showing the moment some suspects were apprehended in the forest with charms. The development has drawn both praise and concern, with Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi warning that the arrests could trigger ethnic tensions, insisting that the operation was an act of ethnic profiling and could lead to ethnic wars in Nigeria.
The arrests come amid a sustained campaign by Igboho's Iru Ekun Security Network to rid South-West forests of terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers. The group has been active in recent weeks, conducting operations across Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and other states. On June 7, 2026, Iru Ekun operatives provided critical intelligence that led to the rescue of a Central Bank of Nigeria staff member and his twin sons who had been abducted in Ibadan for four days. In another operation, the group arrested two suspected kidnappers from the Niger Republic in Ora-Igbomina, Osun State, and rescued two abducted civilians.
The group's activities have not been without cost. On June 26, 2026, several operatives were injured after being ambushed by suspected bandits during an operation in the Old Oyo National Park. The operatives were tracking suspected kidnappers when they came under heavy fire, resulting in a fierce gun battle that left several members wounded. Igboho later confirmed that his operatives had recovered from the ambush and vowed to continue the fight against criminal elements.
Following the latest arrests, Igboho's team handed over the suspects to the Nigeria Police Force for proper documentation, investigation, and prosecution. Igboho has repeatedly insisted that his security outfit is complementary to the constitutional duties of the Nigeria Police Force and other statutory security agencies.
However, the arrests have sparked controversy. Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, warned that the operation could lead to ethnic wars, arguing that the suspects were being targeted based on their ethnicity rather than their criminal activities. Gumi wrote on Facebook: "Good intelligent people everywhere. Nigeria should not plunge into dirty ethnic wars. On the other hand, these victims are mostly Hausa for those who think there is difference once you're regional."
Despite the criticism, Igboho has maintained that his group's operations are aimed at protecting communities and driving out criminals, regardless of their ethnic background. In a recent video, he declared that Yorubaland would not be free unless bandits are driven out of the forests.
Igboho's Iru Ekun Security Network has emerged as a significant player in the South-West security landscape, with the group receiving support from traditional rulers and community leaders. No fewer than twenty traditional rulers in Kwara South who fled their domains months ago due to constant attacks by terrorists have engaged the services of Iru Ekun to help flush out the terrorists and enable them to return to their territories.
The group's operations have been conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and the military, with Igboho's operatives providing critical local intelligence and terrain knowledge that has guided joint operations. The Head of Iru Ekun, Mr Muyiwa Adeniyi, has pledged to abide by the rules and work with security agencies to restore peace to all parts of the South-West.
As the group continues its campaign against banditry and kidnapping, its role in complementing the efforts of state security agencies is likely to grow, even as concerns about the potential for ethnic conflict persist. For now, the arrests in Ibadan represent another victory for Iru Ekun in its mission to secure communities and protect futures across the South-West.
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