Why Yoruba Nation Leader, Akintoye fled To Benin Republic
Professor Banji Akintoye, one of the leaders of the Yoruba Nation has reportedly left Nigeria for Benin Republic over a plot to arrest him.
According to sources, Akintoye fled Nigeria to Benin Republic to escape alleged plot by security force to arrest him even before the raid on the residence of fellow Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo alias Sunday Igboho.
Igboho’s residence was raided around 1am on July 1, 2021 by operatives of the State Security Services, SSS, before he was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic on July 19, 2021.
SSS 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,”
