HURIWA Petitions DSS To Arrest Sunday Igboho Over ‘No-Go Area’ Warning To Atiku, Obi

The Department of State Services (DSS) has been formally petitioned to arrest and question Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, following explosive threats directed at opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) issued the call on Monday, reacting to a viral video and audio where Igboho reportedly warned that Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party should be barred from campaigning in the South-West.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA described Igboho’s pronouncements as a “direct assault” on the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement and political participation for all citizens regardless of their ethnic or political affiliations.

“These statements are dangerous, unlawful, and capable of inciting political violence. No individual has the legal authority to declare any part of Nigeria a ‘no-go area’ for political activities,” the group stated.

HURIWA warned that if the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force fail to act swiftly, it could normalize political thuggery and create an atmosphere of fear that would disenfranchise millions of voters in the 2027 polls.

The rights group expressed deep concern that these threats appear to follow a “coordinated pattern” of ethnic and political intimidation in the South-West. They referenced the controversial role of Lagos transport mogul Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) during the 2023 elections, where non-indigenous voters, particularly Igbos, were allegedly targeted.

HURIWA also slammed recent “inflammatory” rhetoric from presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, suggesting that such high-level narratives embolden grassroots agitators like Igboho to issue threats with impunity.

Directly addressing the Presidency, HURIWA urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to break his silence and distance himself from those issuing threats in his name.

“The President must take urgent steps to reassure Nigerians that no group is being empowered, directly or indirectly, to intimidate or attack political opponents. Silence or inaction could be interpreted as endorsement,” the statement added.

The petition comes at a time when the 2027 political “permutations” are already heating up, with opposition figures increasingly vocal about the state of the nation. Analysts warn that allowing ethnic agitators to dictate the terms of political engagement could trigger retaliatory threats in other regions, further polarizing the country along ethnic lines.

As of Tuesday morning, the DSS has yet to issue an official response to the petition, but security sources indicate that the viral footage is being “reviewed” to determine its potential for inciting public disorder.