Popular Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, on Tuesday intervened to prevent police officers from arresting Abdulazeez Adegbola, better known as Tani Olohun, an advocate of Isese, the indigenous Yoruba faith, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Videos making the rounds online and posted on Tani Olohun’s Facebook page showed a scuffle as the officers attempted to take the Isese adherent away, with him resisting the arrest.
In one video, a resident filmed the moment Tani Olohun was pinned to the ground by an officer, while others stood nearby.
The resident could be heard saying, “They called themselves police officers. They are not police. They are kidnappers. They are about to kill Tani Olohun. They are bandit.”
One of the officers showed the residents his identity card, but the resident dismissed the proof, saying, “It is a lie. You are not police.”
In another live video shared on Facebook, the men who appeared to be dressed in civilian clothes and carrying firearms were seen attempting to take Tani Olohun away.
“These people are kidnappers, but they called themselves police. Their vehicle did not have a plate number
“Please help us, they want to carry Tani Olohun away. They want to arrest him. They want to kill him,” a resident said during the broadcast.
It was learnt that members of his family subsequently contacted Igboho, who arrived at the scene with some supporters.
Subsequent videos on Tani Olohun’s page showed Igboho, surrounded by supporters, speaking to an alleged senior official on the phone.
“They want to cause trouble for you. The whole neighbourhood is blocked. They are fighting for religion, and the neighbours are not ready to release him,” the Yoruba activist said while talking on the phone.
He told the official that there were four officers on the ground.
Igboho later handed the phone to one of the officers at the official’s request.
The arrest attempt occurred at Tani Olohun’s residence amid an ongoing criminal case filed against him by the Ilorin Heritage Preservation Foundation over a social media video that the foundation alleged mocked an Islamic prayer and could cause religious tension.
The foundation accused him of publishing the video on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok and claimed it contained material capable of causing religious tension.
It alleged that the video attracted hostile comments against Muslims and amounted to incitement of religious disturbance, contempt of religious creed and injurious falsehood.
The case is before a court in Ilorin.
However, the circumstances surrounding the arrest attempt, including whether the officers had a valid warrant or were acting on a fresh court order, were not immediately clear.
When contacted, the Oyo State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said he was aware of the attempted arrest but declined to provide further details.
“I don’t have a comment. A press release is coming soon,” Olayinka told Punch correspondent in a phone conversation.
Meanwhile, another video posted on Tani Olohun’s page showed him after he was freed.
The Isese adherent, visibly battered and dressed in torn clothes, was seen sitting on the ground.
He said, “To all Yoruba people, I thank you all. This morning, as I stepped out of my house, I encountered them. They attempted to kidnap me and took me away unlawfully. They restrained me. I thank all my people. My special thanks go to the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, and our father, the Olubadan. Thank you all.
“To every Yoruba person worldwide who called, who listened and rushed to help, I thank you. My profound gratitude goes to Governor Seyi Makinde. Most importantly, above all, to Chief Sunday Igboho, I thank you deeply. You are a true son of the Yoruba nation. Just as he always steps up, he did it again today.”
Tani Olohun is an advocate of Isese and has previously been involved in controversies concerning traditional religion, religious freedom and the preservation of Yoruba cultural practices.
Credit: Punch