Northern Groups, Elders Warn of Anarchy Over Sunday Igboho’s Ultimatum in Oyo

Tensions have escalated in Oyo State following a public ultimatum issued by Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, who demanded the release of abducted residents in the Oke-Ogun area. The directive has triggered a sharp backlash from northern socio-political organizations, which warn that the move promotes ethnic profiling and risks plunging the nation into anarchy.

The controversy stems from a viral video in which Igboho gave an ultimatum to Fulani leaders in the Igboho community, alleging that their members were responsible for the kidnapping of a pregnant woman and her relatives. Northern groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), and the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), condemned the ultimatum as unconstitutional and dangerous.

Spokespersons for these groups argued that assigning collective guilt to an entire ethnic group for the actions of individual criminals is a recipe for reprisal. They emphasized that kidnapping has become a broad criminal enterprise involving individuals from diverse backgrounds and that stereotyping the Fulani community who they noted are also frequent victims of banditry undermines national unity and constitutional rights. The groups called on the federal government and security agencies to intervene immediately to prevent the situation from deteriorating into widespread ethnic violence.

In response, Igboho, through his spokesperson, defended his actions, asserting that his advocacy is focused on security and not targeted at any specific ethnic group. He maintained that his primary objective is to combat criminal elements, such as kidnappers and violent attackers, who threaten the peace and livelihoods of people in Yoruba communities. He stated that his position is not one of hatred, but a call for the identification and prosecution of criminals regardless of their ethnic or religious background.

Meanwhile, local authorities and law enforcement in Oyo State have dismissed reports that the abducted victims have been released, confirming that they remain in captivity and that search operations are ongoing.

The incident has reignited the national debate over security management. While some socio-political organizations, such as Afenifere, have used the unrest to renew calls for the urgent establishment of state-controlled police forces to address local security gaps, northern groups have urged the government to focus on intelligence-driven policing and the protection of all residents, regardless of their origin, to avoid the dangers of non-state actors assuming law enforcement responsibilities.