Sunday Igboho Awaits FG Approval for South-West Security Network

LAGOS — Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, says his proposed Iru Ekun Security Network is awaiting formal approval from the Federal Government. Igboho said the network is designed to provide a structured, legal security response to the rising insecurity affecting Yoruba communities across the South-West.

Igboho returned to Nigeria earlier in 2026 after spending years in Benin Republic following his dramatic escape from government security forces in 2021. Since his return, he has been attempting to reinsert himself into the security and political conversation in southwestern Nigeria.

“We have submitted the proposal to the relevant federal authorities. We are waiting for approval. The Iru Ekun Security Network will work within the law to protect our people. We are not a vigilante group. We are a structured community security organisation,” Igboho said in a statement.

Iru Ekun, which translates to Tears of a Tiger in Yoruba, is framed as a community self-defence network that will complement the work of police and military forces. Igboho said the network will deploy trained operatives across South-West states to respond to kidnappings, farmer-herder conflicts, and other security threats.

Igboho’s Controversial Profile

Igboho remains a deeply controversial figure in Nigerian politics. He rose to prominence in early 2021 by giving Fulani herdsmen ultimatums to leave Yoruba farming communities in Oyo and other states. His actions attracted both strong popular support from South-West communities who felt unprotected and fierce government criticism.

The DSS declared him wanted in July 2021 after a raid on his Ibadan home. He escaped to Benin Republic and was later arrested by Beninese authorities but released and allowed to remain in the country. His return to Nigeria this year was met with fanfare from his supporters.

Furthermore, the Federal Government’s posture toward Igboho has shifted since Tinubu took office. As a Yoruba president with deep roots in southwestern politics, Tinubu’s administration has taken a less aggressive posture toward Yoruba activists than the Buhari administration did. However, official approval for a security network led by Igboho remains politically sensitive.

South-West Security Context

The South-West has faced growing insecurity in recent years. The confirmation that JAS terrorists from the northeast carried out the Oriire school kidnapping in Oyo State has added urgency to security concerns across the region. Many communities feel that existing security forces are insufficient.

State-sponsored security outfits like Amotekun, which operates across South-West states, have helped improve community security. However, gaps remain, particularly in rural and border communities. Igboho’s network, if approved and properly regulated, could potentially complement existing structures.

Security experts said any approval of a new security network must come with strong oversight mechanisms, clear rules of engagement, and accountability structures. Without these safeguards, community security networks can become armed groups that create new problems rather than solving existing ones.