According to TheCable, the Department of State Services (DSS) has denied reports that its officers attempted to arrest Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, on Friday.

Igboho has been in the spotlight since he issued an eviction notice to Fulani herders in the Ibarapa area of Oyo state, blaming them for a spate of kidnapping and other violent activities.

Adesina Akinpelu, Igboho’s aide who spoke to TheCable, said operatives from different security agencies intercepted a convoy in which the youth leader was travelling along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Friday.

Akinpelu said the security operatives claimed they wanted to arrest a “criminal”, but did not mention Igboho’s name.

“Some people around, who noticed the confrontation and saw Igboho, joined us and said they would resist any attempt to arrest him,” Akinpelu said.

“Seeing that any attempt to touch him could lead to violence, they calmed down and we left.

“I cannot say that they came to arrest him, since the people did not state their mission. There was no shot fired, no injury, and no arrest was made. It happened around 2pm.”

Reacting to the report in a statement, Peter Afunanya, DSS public relations officer, described it as “fake”.

“The Department of State Services wishes to refute the news that it attempted to arrest one Sunday Igboho today at Ibadan, Oyo State,” Afunanya said.