A Fulani man from Bani in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State has threatened prominent Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, warning that the activist would not return home alive if he dared to enter the community to chase Fulani residents away.
The threat was contained in a video seen by SaharaReporters, in which the man, dressed in native attire and seated on a motorcycle in what appeared to be a bushy area, spoke in Yoruba language while issuing a series of insults and warnings directed at Igboho.
In the video, the man accused Sunday Igboho of mentioning the name of the traditional ruler of Bani and warned him to tread carefully, insisting that Bani was not a place where he could act with impunity.
Addressing the activist directly, the man said: “Today, I want to talk to Sunday Igboho, and I want this video to reach him.
“Igboho, let me tell you this. I swear to God, I heard that you mentioned the name of the traditional ruler of Bani. You should be very careful. The monarch is not your mate. Bani is not like Igangan. We, the people of Bani, are not scared of you. You are just a kid.”
The man went on to defend the Fulani population in Bani, denying allegations of criminality and insisting that Fulani residents in the area were not bandits.
According to him, members of the community are engaged in legitimate means of livelihood, particularly mining, and should not be profiled as criminals.
“We Fulani in Bani are not bandits. Call Yoruba people in Bani and ask them whether the Fulani in Bani are bandits,” he said.
“We are looking for money through legitimate means. The mining you are seeing is where we are getting our money from. Anyone who wants to become a bandit will not go into mining.”
He then issued a direct threat to Igboho, warning him against stepping into Bani.
“If you dare set foot in Bani, you will not go home safely, I swear to God,” he said.
“Who are you? Bani is not like Igangan. Once you dare come to Igbeti and dare to enter Bani, you will not go home safely.
“Are we bandits? How many bandits have they arrested in Bani? You are mentioning the name of the Bani monarch. Was it the monarch that killed your father or your mother?”
The man further mocked Igboho, saying the community was willing to send him transport fare if he wanted to come, while insisting that Fulani residents in Bani were not intimidated by his reputation.“We will send you transport money to come over. Are you a soldier or what? We Fulani from Bani are not scared of you,” he said.
“You are killing fake Fulani; you cannot kill original Fulani.”
The video is the latest in a string of inflammatory exchanges linked to ethnic tensions and anti-herder rhetoric in parts of the South-West and North-Central regions of Nigeria.
Sunday Igboho rose to prominence following his campaigns against criminal herders in parts of Yorubaland, especially after the 2021 eviction order he issued to Fulani residents in Igangan, Oyo State, over allegations of kidnappings, killings and violent attacks allegedly linked to some herders.
His activities have since generated fierce support among many Yoruba self-determination advocates, while also drawing criticism and resistance from some Fulani groups and northern interests who accuse him of ethnic profiling and incitement.
