A cultural activist in South-West Nigeria, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho may have commenced mobilization of young men to comb forests and flush terrorists out of Yorubaland.
Sunday Igboho on Monday said he was still awaiting the Federal Government’s approval for the take-off of his security outfit, “Iru Ekun Security Network,” as part of the moves to dislodge criminal elements from South-West forests.
He also expressed his readiness to comply with the Executive Order recently issued by the Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, to regulate the activities of private security firms in the state.
Igboho, who made this known in a statement issued in Ibadan, stressed that all necessary documents and procedural requirements needed for the approval of “Iru Ekun Security Network” had been submitted to the Federal Government.
Makinde signed into law Executive Order 001 of 2026 on the Regulation of Associations, Groups and Organizations offering Security and Allied Services in the state on Wednesday, May 20.
He said: “the move was necessary to ensure that all groups and associations involved in security-related activities, such as vigilantes and other community-based security groups, operate within a clear legal and operational framework that supports peace, order, and the rule of law in the state.”
The governor said the executive order became necessary in view of the growing security challenges confronting communities and the increasing number of groups engaging in security-related activities without proper coordination.
His reputation was first forged during the Modakeke–Ife communal crisis in the late 1990s, where he stood out as a protector of his community.
Decades later, he became a household name after issuing a quit notice to Fulani herders in Igangan, Oyo State, 2021, following waves of kidnappings and killings.
These bold actions earned him admiration among many Yoruba people but also drew the ire of the Federal Government, which accused him of stockpiling arms and declared him wanted.
He fled into exile before returning in 2026 after reconciliation efforts by Yoruba leaders.
This history of confrontation and exile explains why Igboho is now careful to frame his new initiative as a partner of the state rather than a rogue militia.
On May 19, 2026, he announced the formation of the Iru Ekun Security Network, a grassroots force designed to mobilize young men and hunters to comb forests and flush out terrorists, kidnappers, and criminal herders devastating Yorubaland.
Unlike Amotekun, the official South-West regional security outfit created in 2020, Iru Ekun is envisioned as a more offensive, forest-penetrating unit capable of tackling bandits in difficult terrains such as the dense forests near Old Oyo National Park.
Igboho’s announcement came in response to escalating insecurity, including recent school abductions in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where dozens of pupils and teachers were kidnapped.
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He expressed sympathy for affected families and vowed that Iru Ekun would confront the worsening crisis head-on.
In a notable shift from his past defiance, he emphasized that the outfit would not begin operations without official authorization from the Federal Government, South-West governors, the Police, DSS, and the Nigerian Army.
By insisting on government validation, Igboho seeks legitimacy, cooperation, and protection from being branded illegal.
“I am only awaiting government approval to confront the worsening insecurity devastating the South-West head-on,” he stated.
It reflects a deliberate repositioning; he was once branded a rebel but now seeks partnership aligning his grassroots credibility with institutional authority to ensure that his efforts are both lawful and effective.
Crediblenewsng.com
