By Vera Chinonso Aliyu, YeyeNews.com, October 9, 2021
Foremost Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Igboho has reportedly gone missing from his cell in a heavily guarded Benin Republic prison. Authorities of the prison said he mysteriously escaped during a heavy downpour on Friday night. “The prison is heavily guarded with tall walls, barbed wires and thick steel framed gates. Even his cell is protected with iron bars and thick chains. No one can fathom how he got out without anybody noticing”, a prison guard told YeyeNews.com.
Igboho has been facing extradition charges in the French speaking West African country since he was arrested there in July. “We were preparing to take him to court on Monday for continuation of his case. He had been very cooperative until recently when he started complaining of being frustrated and threatened to take drastic measures to resolve matters. We thought he was hinting at suicide so we had to place him on 24 hours surveillance. But even under our surveillance he has escaped without our notice”, an official assigned to the case of Igboho narrated.
“We believed he disappeared using some spiritual powers,” another Beninoise prison guard told our reporter. “During the downpour we observed a colony of bats noisily clicking and hovering around the prison,” the guard continued. “The more they clicked, the heavier the rain became. And when everything was over Igboho was no where to be found. But a massive manhunt has been launched by the authorities. We are going to bring him back no matter what it takes.”
When YeyeNews.com reporter contacted Koiki, an aide of Igboho, he denied knowledge of any escape, saying that the Benin Republic government was only playing pranks. “As far as we are concerned Igboho Osa is in their custody. His safety is their responsibility. We suspect this a plot to hand him over to Buhari. They must account for his whereabout”.
A senior Nigerian official in the Attorney General’s office accused Benin Republic of complicity in the escape. “We won’t buy such cock and bull stories. We are certain that Benin Republic planned this escape to prevent our government from dealing with him as we are doing to Kanu. We are going to put serious diplomatic pressure on Benin Republic to produce Igboho. If they refuse we won’t hesitate to invade their country.”
However a traditional priest in Modakeke who pleaded anonymity has confirmed Igboho’s escape to our reporter. “Oru jinjin ni Adan nfo,” the priest responded dismissively, using a proverb that translates as “It’s in the night that bats fly”. When YeyeNews.com reporter further inquired into what the priest meant, the man retorted, “Go home. Adan ni Oba l’oru. Our son is safe now,” using another expression that means,“In the night, the bat is only the king.”
