Free Ighoho Oosa Rally in Washington DC.

On Tuesday 30, 2021, few Nigerians gathered in front of Benin embassy in Washington DC protesting and demanding the release of jailed Mr Sunday Adeyemo, known as Ighoho Oosa, who was arrested in Benin while on his way to join his family in Germany.

Ighoho Oosa is one of the agitators for self seeking determination for Yoruba land and always defending and promoting the betterment and the existence of a Yoruba land. 

The main motivation for his arrest actually started on the early morning of July 1, 2021, between 1.30am and 2am (West African time), when Ighoho Oosa’s house in Nigeria, was invaded by the Nigerian security forces and military under the pretense of an alleged stock of weapons in his house to be used to overthrow the Nigerian government and Ighoho was declared wanted from then on. Many things were destroyed including forceful opening of the house gate apart from damages to Ighoho’s home and properties. 

Unfortunately, two people were killed ,13 arrested and injured and luckily enough, Ighoho Oosa himself wasn’t around by then. The arrested people, among which are a female social media commentator and an agitator, were taken to Abuja, the country’s Federal capital and all kept in custody until the time of this writing. In addition, these 13 arrested people are being denied medical care, visits from their lawyers and bail.

Later on, while on his way to join his family in Germany, Ighoho was arrested and imprisoned in Benin and since then, efforts are being made by the Nigerian government to get him extradited to Nigeria.

The protesters with banners that read “I am Ighoho Oosa” in some different languages, “Benin Republic, Free Sunday Adeyemo,” “Sunday Adeyemo is not a fugitive and not a refugee,” “Sunday Adeyemo is a prisoner of conscience,” are demanding his urgent release from the Benin government and no other way to do this than protesting exactly in front of Benin embassy in Washington DC.

The rally which started around 8.30am with the presence of Evangelist Jide Ige, a travel consultant, Barrister Tinu Akinshola, a lawyer and Bishop Martin Webb, a pastor and other Nigerians , went on till around 1pm attracting the attention of two Washington police  officers, who came over, asked the protesters some questions and Instead, stayed over providing them security and easing the flow of traffic in the area.

Lest i forget, it started snowing a little just for a short time during the rally and at the same time, the President of USA, Joe Biden and his motorcade passed by giving the few protesters more motivation for their action.

According to the protesters, the human rights abuse by Nigerian government should be made public and stopped.

A similar incident happened to another Nigerian, a self seeking determination agitator, Nnadi Kanu, who was kidnapped in Kenya by the Nigerian government and forcibly returned to Nigeria to face trial on fabricated and trumped-up charges.

There are videos and images of the impact of the gruesome attack on Chief Adeyemo and his home by the Nigerian security forces and the military, which are very graphic to watch.

By Niyi Fote/Thenews2