Sunday Igboho Is An Assassin And I Once Got Him Arrested For Attempting To Assassinate Asiwaju Tinubu And Rauf Aregbesola for N25 million – OTO

His name is Abdulrazaq Rafiu Kolawole. And he is well known as ‘Oto’ in the political and social circles. For those who don’t know him, he was the former chairman Federal Task Force SURE-P under former president Goodluck Jonathan, a former head of bodyguard to former Governor of Lagos state Babatunde Raji Fasola, a former head of bodyguard to Governor Fayemi, a former task force chairman under Otunba Gbenga Daniel. And former Personal Assistant on Security to the former governor of Osun State Ogbeni Rafiu Aregbesola.

On Sunday February 14th, he granted a special interview to Kosofe Reporters, an online TV and a national newspaper at his residence somewhere at Ketu where he made stunning revelations about a popular Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho. In the ensuing interview with Olusegun Apena, Taiwo Fadipe and Seun Adeoye, Oto as he is popularly called, describes Sunday Igboho as an assassin, a ritualist and a political thug and that he once got him arrested for attempting to assassinate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for N25 million.

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Could you give a brief introduction of yourself?

My name is Abdulrazaq Rafiu Kolawole Alias Oto(Otority). I passed through Dubai Police College. I am a security expert. I was the former chairman Federal Task Force SURE-P under former president Goodluck Jonathan, the former head of bodyguard to (former Governor of Lagos state) Babatunde Raji Fasola, the former head of bodyguard to Governor Fayemi, the former task force chairman under Otunba Gbenga Daniel and former Personal Assistant on Security to the former governor of Osun State Ogbeni Rafiu Aregbesola.

Why are we holding this interview? 

 What I want to talk about is the issue going on in Oyo State. Many people don’t know what is really happening over there. And this man called Igboho is trying to create tension because they don’t know who Igboho is. People throughout the world respect Yoruba as intelligent and accommodating people. And we don’t want a situation where someone will just come and spoil our name, spoil our integrity and spoil our image under pretext that he is fighting Fulani herdsmen because the implication of what the guy is doing in Oyo state, Yoruba may not be able to withstand it. The World is now looking at Yoruba that we are the livewire of Nigeria because without Yoruba, Nigeria can never stand. I want Nigerians to Know that we Yoruba are not hooligans. We are not ritualists because this Igboho that is now parading himself as a representative of Yoruba is not a reliable human being.

It seems you know Igboho, could you tell us his antecedent?

 

Igboho is an assassin. Igboho is a ritualist. Igboho... is any atrocity you can ascribe to him because we too we are on the field. I have been on the field since 1976 at Yaba. So we know ourselves. And we know how criminals operate. There are certain criminals who will be living in communities and would try to assist people. That assistance is just a pretence so that they would not know the type of person he is. Sometime in 2010 around December, I personally arrested Igboho when he was given 25 million naira to go and kill Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) and (Rauf) Aregbesola. Then I petitioned IG (Ogbonnanya) Onovo. And they referred the matter to Osogbo command while they got him arrested. Their aim and plan then was to wear fake (police) uniform and kill (Ogbeni Rauf) Aregbesola and (Asiwaju) Tinubu at the first Iwude Day of 2010.

Under whom are you working at that time?

I was working under Aregbesola then as his Personal Assistant on security. Immediately I got the information I briefed my principal. I told him that certain thing was about to happen; that there was a plan to kill him and his boss (Asiwaju) on Iwude day. And they asked me what are we going to do. And I said the only thing we can do is to ensure he doesn’t act first. That we should not confront him physically, we should do everything legally to confront him. That’s why I quickly went to IG office at Abuja. Then I wrote a petition which I signed by myself. And the matter was referred to Osogbo police Command in 2010. Then the police said I should not worry they would get him arrested. And precisely, they got him arrested. They invited him. But due to the people he was working for which I don’t want to mention here…

Was Igboho a political thug?

Yes, he’s a political thug.

But he has denied being a political thug?

No. He was a political thug. He was being used by the PDP. I was a former PDP member. I was a chairman SURE-P under Obasanjo which they called FERMA then. I was also chairman SURE-P under Jonathan. And I have been on the field since 1976. He has tentacles everywhere, even in Lagos Island. He has his boys there. So I know them and I know their mission. But such a person, how can he be representing Yoruba. He’s a criminal killing people, ritualist; performing ritual… They are the same criminals who burnt TVC. We know them. All those mad people living in the markets from Oyo state… you can never see any Lagosian – I am a Lagosian – you can never see a Lagosian at ‘EndSars Tollgate’. You can never see a Lagosian there.

Did you just make an allegation that Igboho was one of those that burnt TVC?

He was part of them, he was part of them. You Know all these area boys living in the markets now… Ok, are the human beings living in the markets. Go and see those who are living in the markets; why should they be living in the markets - area boys carrying guns. During Obasanjo’s time, you could see police invaded there and took all of them to Panti. Why should they allow hoodlums to be living in the markets? They were paid from there to go and burn TVC.

  

As an experienced security officer, this allegation looks wild. Could you substantiate it?

Why not? But not to you people, you understand.

We are supposed to ask you this question. 

Eh, if I want to do that I will just have to write a brief report to police and DSS on that, but not to you people.

But will you be able to defend this allegation basically?

With who?

Supposing Igboho took you to court over this allegation?

That means he Is a mad man. How can he take me to court? I told you someone attempted to kill Asiwaju and I wrote a petition personally not that someone else wrote or gave me story. Why can’t you say he should take me to court concerning that.

Is it true that Igboho met with Asiwaju and was given 2 million naira?

It’s a lie

But he said he collected 2 million from Asiwaju?

Everybody wants to attach himself to Asiwaju. Asiwaju is a responsible and very reliable man.

In another way, what Babafemi Ojudu said about Igboho, how true is it?

I was not there. It may be true and it may not be true, whatever I’m sure of that is what I am going to say.

Were you able to find out those who gave Igboho 25 million naira to kill Asiwaju?

We know them. How can someone just wake up and say he wants to kill somebody. He has Godfathers now.

Were you able to identify those who paid him?

We cannot be saying that one here. We just wanted to get everything resolved; just get him arrested, put him somewhere, investigated him and his activities, since he was young. He should be properly investigated and all his call logs should be looked into.

It looks like Igboho is now fighting a new cause and most importantly the Fulani herdsmen and he is already gaining popularity in the media; Yoruba and people around the world want to know who Igboho is. And you with this allegation and some of the other things you have said, are you saying Igboho is not doing the right thing?

Yes, he is not doing the right thing. I told you I too have been in the field since 1976. If truly he wants to help his country or community, what he should have done was to contact the security men. We have security men in the country… He should work in conjunction with the security men so that it will be legal. We don’t want to be like Palestinian. In Palestinian there is no law. If you slap me now, I will go and bring my boys to beat you in your house, beat your mother. I will not go to police station and report to police… so in the country there will be lawlessness. What are the police there for? What are the military there for? What are SSS there for? So go to them, in conjunction with them move into the bush and rescue if truly you want to rescue the Yoruba.

Some people said they have made several reports to the police and that they always sided with the Fulani herdsmen and their Seriki?

It’s a lie. A bloody lie. In the 70s we had Babatunde Folorunsho. He’s the Armed robber of the year. We had Oyenusi. We had mighty Joe. They were the only armed robbers in the whole of Nigeria. Does that mean all Yoruba are armed robbers? During the reign of Anini, Osunbo, Iyamu and co, they were the only one terrorizing the whole of Nigeria. Does that mean that Benin or Edo people are armed robbers? Go and check google, you will see these criminalities. That serial killer in Ibadan, that guy killing women, was he a Fulani man? Why can’t they go and kill the whole family of that guy. So, we do not say there is no problem in our community or in the southwest concerning the Fulani men. Physically I have not seen it. I am a Muslim; I don’t say what I have not seen. But the truth is that if truly this thing is happening, we have to find those who are involved not to indict everybody because this thing can lead to religious and ethnic war… If somebody is a criminal and you identify he is criminal, you can remove him from the community. You can eliminate him but according to the law of the land... But you have to be sure, not to be guessing. If we identify Igboho as a criminal, why can’t we go and kill the whole family. As a ritualist why can’t we kill his whole family? But we can only identify Igboho as a criminal not his family. Fulani have been living here before they born my great, great grandfather, we don’t have problem with them. The Hausa community are here in Mile 12; we don’t have problem with them. Let everybody live. Let’s say you are in America now; within five years you are praying to get your American passport. But here you don’t want to see your fellow Nigerians. I lived in Dubai for 4 years, I Know what the Ibo did there: robbing banks, ATM, killing everywhere. I joined the police there briefly and investigated many cases for the police. Does that mean all Ibo are armed robbers or killers? No. we only identify the criminals. 

Some people may say that you have been paid to run down Igboho that is why you are saying all these?

   

God will punish that person that paid me. How can someone pay me? I have my own children and family. I will die one day; I am 57 years old now. I will die one day and leave my own children. All these people causing problem now, when the time comes they will just take their children and run out of the country. They know how to escape since they are criminals, like Igboho. They know how to escape out of the country… Some of the boys when they have problem, I assist them. Why can’t they use the juju they put under the clothes to assist them. It’s a bloody lie. When is your time to die, you will surely die, nothing can prevent it. If truly he has good intention to help the government, he can do. Once you Know all the criminals go to the SSS and the police; in conjunction with them move into the forest, identify the real people that you Know. But don’t do it under annoyance or under APC or PDP. They have another mission. This guy started the criminality and Obasanjo is supporting him, Oyinlola is supporting him, Ladoja is supporting him because those are his leaders.

Are you by the way suggesting this thing is also politically motivated, that he is fighting for certain political class?

Yes, tactically, tactically.

Tactically?

Yes.

Do you want to expatiate a bit more on that? What party could Igboho be fighting for?

He may be fighting for PDP. He is PDP guy now. He is a PDP agent.

But there were reports that the soldiers and the police are aiding and abetting the Herdsmen to wreak havoc in southwest?

You just said you heard but not confirm. There are so many cases. They would say Fulani, Fulani men but after their arrest and investigation they would found out they are not Fulani men. Go and check google, go and find out those they are arresting for serial Killings – Ibo, Yoruba and others. This ‘Godogodo’ that has Killed one hundred and something police, is he a Fulani man? Evans that had been killing and kidnapping is he a Fulani man? 

Are you saying Igboho should henceforth stop his agitation or you are advising him to approach it the better way?

Yes, he should approach it the better way or stop because some people are using him.

Some people are using him?

Yes, there is hatred there. Ok why the time of Buhari?

Well, the truth is that at the time of Buhari the violence of the killer Fulani has escalated.

It’s because they did not do the necessary thing because of the hatred for Buhari. They try to kill him; they try to poison him any time they see his mistakes. Whereas we have the governors here.

But governors don’t control the soldiers or the police?

No, it doesn’t mean. In my area I am not a police and not in charge of security but I still use my discretion to do certain things. You hold meeting with security agents nearly every week and you can call them to order that certain things are going on, from intelligent gathering this is what you can do personally from the security vote they gave you that you are not going to account for. You can give them to go and do it. And they will do it. Or you do a petition like a write up and give them… Not that you don’t control police. Ordinary individuals control police.

Now Alhaji what advice do you have for the southwest Governors because Igboho once visited Ogun state purportedly on the invitation of the governor?

No, the Governor did not invite him. The man said it publicly he did not invite him. That is why I said everything is politics…

Is it ok to say that this sitting is a way of dousing what you perceive as an ethnic tension growing?

Let me tell you what you don’t Know. If you allow this Igboho issue to persist, all these Obasanjo, Oyinlola, Ladoja everybody Knows about it. You know when you make a criminal to become more powerful like Boko Haram, like Niger Delta (Militants), in 2023, APC will not have access to Oyo State because your people are just joining Igboho they don’t know he’s a criminal.

But the state Governor who is PDP has come out publicly to denounce him?

All of them are pretenders, forget that one.

There is a war of words between them.

‘Gegeti la n pe ni area awon omota, gegeti’(it’s called gegeti in the local parlance of area boys).

Some people who know Igboho’s background thinks that the present battle he is fighting is a way of legitimizing and integrating his way back into the society. People don’t ask about his background, all right. But sometime a criminal can become a hero at some point.

Yes, in Nigeria where we don’t have sense. You can legitimize...

When the right heroes refuse to stand up perhaps?

Yes, a criminal will now take over and the country will not have peace. Where are they getting the guns from? Where are they getting the ammunition from? Who is paying them? Which work is Igboho doing?

Are you saying Igboho will likely get out of hands if he is allowed to continue?

Yes, he will get out of hands. Do you think I am lying? 

What would you say about Fulani herdsmen carrying sophisticated weapons?

No, I am not in support of that. We are in a modern day now. Fulani should go and buy land at anywhere. See America and Dubai they are doing ranching. Get a place fence it, within let the animals be there and be taking care of them…

But the president of the country has not made a categorical statement denouncing the killer herdsmen?

Listen he is not supporting them. 

He is the patron of Miyetti Allah

This is politics, you don’t know Buhari of then. People work under him and not everybody you can control. I know the president is a military man not a politician, he’s just trying to be a politician… The man is a gentle man. Just like my leader Aregbe, as a governor he doesn’t have house in Osun, he doesn’t touch money. If you give him money, he would run from you as if you are a devil. Even where he is living at Oduduwa GRA, they built it for him. They forced him to go there because he was living at Akowonjo. He doesn’t even like anything worldly. Ask anybody he doesn’t touch money. He is just like Buhari. It is just coincidental that we have so many criminals in his government. But as human beings we may not know because some people will pretend as if they are helping you whereas they are looking for your downfall. Ok as anybody brought corruption case against Buhari? That he stole money. As that being the case they would have wrote a petition to EFCC. He does not build a new house and he does not buy a new car. 

  

But he has not official condemned the Fulani herdsmen’s behaviour?

It is tactical.

But people want him to speak out?

Ok see the Governor of Oyo state sponsoring Igboho and still pretend as if he doesn’t know Igboho. Who is the head of their political thugs there?

So how do you suggest that Igboho’s uprising be handled at this point?

He should just be arrested and detained as a criminal. How can he just be killing people? Those people he killed should be investigated whether they are truly criminals. And whether he too has the right to be killing people.

Going by the law, for you to send someone to prison you need to have facts, how do we get them?

There are facts already - when you kill illegally, you invade illegally, when you are displaying madness illegally – there are so many facts there. The police and the SSS know, just because of politics they don’t want to arrest him.