Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has strongly condemned the Nigerian government for its raid on the home of Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho. He called the operation, which led to deaths and arrests, a “criminal” act.
The security forces, under the previous government, stormed Igboho’s house in Ibadan in 2021. They claimed he was storing weapons. However, Soyinka insists the government was in the wrong from the start.
Instead of chasing Igboho, Soyinka advises the government to apologize. He believes the state made a grave mistake. “They should tell him, ‘We made a mistake,’ and quietly escort him back home,” the famous scholar said.
Soyinka is confident that putting Igboho on trial would backfire. He guarantees that such a trial would embarrass the government, leaving it “with mud on its face.”
The professor also corrected reports that Igboho is “hiding.” He stated the activist has simply “gone underground” for his own safety. Soyinka clarified that Igboho’s original mission was to defend his people from attackers, which is a lawful cause.
In conclusion, Soyinka places the responsibility on the government to correct its error. He asserts that only Igboho himself can decide his next moves after the violent attack on his home and aides.
