Sunday Igboho Is Back — And This Time, He’s Working With the System, Not Against It
Politics | Security | South West Nigeria
If you know Sunday Igboho’s history with the Nigerian government, the story of his new security outfit feels almost poetic.
This is the same man whose home was raided by DSS operatives in 2021. The same man who fled to the Benin Republic. The same man who spent months battling detention and legal uncertainty abroad.
Now, years later, that same figure has registered a security network, submitted documents to the Federal Government, and is publicly waiting for official approval before making a single operational move.
Sunday Igboho has changed strategy.
And the reason behind that shift says a lot about how serious the security crisis in the South West has become.
What Exactly Is the Iru Ekun Security Network?
“Iru Ekun” roughly translates from Yoruba as “Face of the Leopard.” Even the name carries weight.
According to Igboho, the outfit is designed as a registered voluntary security network focused on combating kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and violent crime across forests and rural communities in South West Nigeria.
The announcement followed growing outrage over repeated attacks in the region — particularly in parts of Oyo State where armed groups have increasingly targeted villages, highways, and schools.
In an earlier viral video, Igboho claimed:
“I have registered it and I have presented it to the president and he has approved it.”
But more recent statements suggest the process is not fully complete yet.
In a fresh statement issued Monday, May 25, 2026, from Ibadan, Igboho clarified that all required documents have indeed been submitted, but final federal approval is still pending.
“We have submitted all the required documents for our registered security firm, Iru Ekun Security Network, and are only waiting for the Federal Government approval which will be granted soon.”
That distinction matters.
The organisation is registered.
The paperwork is complete.
But operations have not officially started.
And notably, Igboho says he will not move forward without clearance.
What Triggered This Move?
The timing is not accidental.
The renewed security conversation intensified after reports of deadly attacks in Oyo State, including incidents involving school abductions and the killing of a mathematics teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun.
Igboho described the attacks as:
“Sad, unfortunate and worrisome.”
He also expressed sympathy for the affected families, including parents of abducted children and relatives of security personnel killed during the violence.
This is the atmosphere Iru Ekun is emerging from — fear, frustration, and growing public concern over rural insecurity in the South West.
A Different Version of Igboho
What makes this development especially significant is not just the security outfit itself — it is the approach behind it.
The Sunday Igboho many Nigerians remember from 2021 built his image around direct action and confrontation. He became nationally known after issuing eviction notices to suspected criminal herders in parts of Yorubaland — actions that made him both deeply admired and deeply controversial.
That version of Igboho moved quickly and challenged authority openly.
The 2026 version appears far more strategic.
This time, he is repeatedly emphasising cooperation with state institutions rather than confrontation.
According to his statements, Iru Ekun will only operate with the approval and collaboration of:
The Federal Government
South-West governors
The Police
The DSS
The Nigerian Army
Other recognised security agencies
He also signalled willingness to work within the framework of the new executive order signed by Seyi Makinde regulating private security groups operating within Oyo State.
Perhaps most importantly, he openly appealed to traditional rulers to help push for official approval.
This is not the language of someone preparing to operate outside the system.
It sounds more like someone trying to build a structure strong enough to survive inside it.
The Political Dimension
Igboho has also framed the worsening insecurity as politically motivated.
According to him, some criminal actors may be deliberately trying to destabilise the South West under the administration of Bola Tinubu.
“What they want to do is frustrate the government of Tinubu,” he said, arguing that certain groups want to create the impression that even Yorubaland is unsafe under a Yoruba president.
He also rejected attempts to reduce the violence to religious divisions, insisting that victims cut across faiths and communities.
Whether people agree with his interpretation or not, one reality remains difficult to dispute:
Communities across parts of the South West are increasingly worried about security.
And many residents feel existing systems are struggling to respond quickly enough.
What Happens Now?
The next move belongs to the Federal Government.
Igboho says the registration has been completed. The documents have been submitted. The structure is ready. What remains is official approval.
The larger question now is whether authorities see Iru Ekun as part of the solution — or as another sensitive security experiment in an already tense national environment.
Either way, the symbolism of this moment is difficult to ignore.
A man once pursued by the state is now publicly asking to work with it.
And in a region increasingly anxious about safety, many people will be watching closely to see what happens next.
What do you think? Should the Federal Government approve the Iru Ekun Security Network? And is Sunday Igboho’s new approach the right one for the moment?