The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied reports that it was part of a joint team thatΒ attempted to arrest popular Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho on Friday.
As previously reported byΒ Naija News, Igboho was on his way to see Afenifere chieftain,Β Pa Ayo AdebanjoΒ in Lagos on Friday when the joint team, numbering about 40Β ambushed him and wanted to arrest himΒ on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
However, Igbohoβs supporters resisted his arrest as commotion ensued between his supporters and the joint team which sought to arrest him by force.
But in a statement on Friday by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, the DSS described the reports as fake news.
The statement reads: βThe Department of State Services wishes to refute the news that it attempted to arrest one Sunday Igboho, today, at Ibadan, Oyo State.
βThe said news is misinforming and should be taken as fake and therefore be disregarded.β
Meanwhile, Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has condemned the attempt by security operatives to arrest Sunday Igboho.
Speaking on the incident, the spokesman of the group, Yinka Odumakin asked security agents to go after bandits and leave Sunday Igboho alone.
He said: βSunday Igboho is not a bandit. Bandits are special under this administration. That is the difference between a bandit and a non-bandit in Nigeria today.β
Odumakin opined that the machinery of government would not have been after Igboho were he a bandit.
He said: βThere is no sense in that (the attempted arrest). He (Igboho) is a free citizen of Nigeria. If they need him for any questioning, they should invite him not to go and waylay him on way like an armed robber.
βWe condemn their attempt. There is no need for it. He has not been invited let alone not honouring the invitation. Chasing him on the road is condemnable.β
The Afenifere spokesman noted that administration of President Muhammadu Buhari favoured bandits who have been left roaming the country despite their many atrocities.
