Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has declared his readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government to flush out bandits and other criminal elements operating in forests across the South-West.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, Adeyemo said he and his supporters were prepared to take action in Yorubaland’s forests, provided they receive official approval and backing from the Federal Government.

He said strengthening security in the region required federal support, noting that without official authorisation, community-led efforts would be ineffective. According to him, with his freedom restored and a possible pardon, he is willing to work with government authorities to rid the forests of criminals and rogue herders threatening rural communities.

Adeyemo has long been outspoken against banditry in the South-West and has, on several occasions, led efforts to chase suspected criminals out of parts of Oyo State. His latest offer signals a notable shift from his earlier confrontations with federal authorities.

In July 2021, his residence in Ibadan was raided by operatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army over allegations of illegal arms stockpiling. Three of his aides were killed during the operation, while several others were arrested.

He later fled Nigeria and was arrested at Cotonou Airport in the Benin Republic on July 19, 2021, while attempting to travel to Germany. He was detained for over a year before regaining freedom in March 2022.

In 2025, Adeyemo publicly appealed to President Bola Tinubu to remove his name from the wanted list, expressing frustration over his period in exile. Following his return to Nigeria on January 26, 2026, he paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, and acknowledged the roles played by traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Francis Alao, in facilitating his return.

Reiterating his commitment to regional security, Adeyemo said he had the manpower to assist in protecting rural communities, stressing that effective collaboration would depend on federal approval and support.

Meanwhile, Igboho has also called on the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to embrace dialogue with the Federal Government to resolve his legal challenges.

In a statement signed by his counsel, Pelumi Olajengbesi, Igboho commended Kanu for cancelling the Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East, describing the move as a necessary step toward restoring stability and economic activity in the region.

He urged Kanu to pursue diplomatic engagement and mediation, expressing optimism that the Tinubu administration would be receptive to peaceful dialogue aimed at securing lasting peace, security, and development in the South-East.