IBADAN, Nigeria — Yoruba self-determination activist Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, intervened after police officers from Kwara State attempted to arrest Isese advocate Abdulazeez Adegbola, popularly called Tani Olohun, at his Ibadan residence, triggering a confrontation with relatives and residents.
The attempt on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, ended without an arrest after the Oyo State police commissioner directed the visiting officers to return to Kwara and advised the complainant to pursue the case through an appropriate court in Ibadan.
Videos posted on Tani Olohun’s Facebook page showed armed men in civilian clothes attempting to take him from the property as residents gathered around them.
One recording showed an officer restraining Tani Olohun on the ground during a scuffle.
Another officer displayed what appeared to be a police identity card, but residents continued to challenge the men’s identities and questioned why their vehicle reportedly had no visible registration number.
Relatives initially described the officers as kidnappers and appealed for help in a Facebook broadcast, saying they feared Tani Olohun would be harmed if he was taken away.
The Oyo State Police Command later confirmed that the men were police officers deployed from Kwara State.
Family members contacted Igboho as the confrontation intensified.
He arrived with supporters and was subsequently seen speaking by telephone with a person described as a senior security official.
“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,” Igboho said during the call.
He informed the official that four officers were at the residence and later handed the telephone to one of them.
Police Confirm Arrest Warrant
In a statement published on X, the Oyo State Police Command said the Kwara officers were on an official assignment connected to a court-issued arrest warrant.
The command said the “officers were acting pursuant to a warrant of arrest” issued by an Upper Ilorin Magistrates’ Court over allegations of conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
According to the police account, the warrant followed an allegation that Tani Olohun had failed to comply with conditions attached to an earlier bail order.
The command’s spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the Oyo State commissioner of police directed the officers to return to Kwara after receiving information about the operation.
The commissioner also advised the complainant to approach an appropriate court in Ibadan because the alleged offence was said to have occurred in the city. The command cited due process and territorial jurisdiction in explaining the decision.
The clarification was also published on the command’s Instagram account.
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASEOYO POLICE COMMAND CLARIFIES CIRCULATING VIDEO INVOLVING KWARA POLICE OFFICERS
The attention of the Oyo State Police Command has been drawn to a video circulating on social media concerning some officers of the Kwara State Police Command who were in…
— Oyo State Police Command (@OyoPoliceNG) August 25, 2026
Tani Olohun Thanks Those Who Intervened
A later video showed Tani Olohun sitting on the ground in torn clothing after the officers had left.
He thanked the commissioners of police in Oyo and Kwara states, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and Igboho for their reported roles in resolving the confrontation.
He accused the officers of trying to take him away unlawfully, an allegation the police disputed by confirming that they were acting under a warrant.
Tani Olohun was not taken into custody during the encounter.
Pending Religious-Tension Case
The arrest attempt is connected to a criminal complaint brought by the Ilorin Heritage Preservation Foundation over a video Tani Olohun allegedly published on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.
The foundation alleges that the recording mocked an Islamic prayer, encouraged hostile comments about Muslims and contained material capable of provoking religious tension.
The complaint reportedly cites provisions of the Kwara State Penal Code dealing with incitement of religious disturbance, contempt of religious creed and injurious falsehood.
The case is pending before Upper Area Court II in the Ilorin Judicial Division.
Proceedings were adjourned until September 1 after neither Tani Olohun nor his lawyer appeared at the previous hearing.
The allegations against him have not been proven, and the court has not delivered a judgment on the substantive complaint.
Neither Igboho nor his spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, had issued a detailed statement addressing the police claim that the attempted arrest was supported by a valid warrant.
