Nobel Laureate and veteran human rights activist, Prof Wole Soyinka has said that Sunday Igboho is a freedom fighter and not a criminal. He made a plea for his immediate release.

He spoke with journalists at Freedom Park in Lagos where he said Sunday Igboho had the right to agitate for a better deal for his people. He said Igboho’s agitation was peaceful and as such shouldn’t be criminalized. He also criticized the invasion of his private residence by the DSS.

He said: “I refuse to accept that Igboho is being chased because he peacefully demonstrated his position vis-a-vis the destiny of this nation, which is a fundamental human right of any body.

“Somebody calls for secession, calls for a separate state, I don’t consider that, and nowhere does it deserve to be called a criminal act.

“As long as it is done peacefully, collectively, within the ambit of the law, you don’t now criminalize that action.

“And in addition, commit criminal acts against such an individual, which is what the government, the security forces did by raiding Igboho’s home in the middle of the night, killing two of his own people, then claiming, without a warrant or anything, they found weapons in his home.”

Igboho is currently locked up by security agents in Benin Republic.

The freedom fighter was arrested recently in Cotonou while trying to travel to Germany.

Igboho had fled Nigeria to Benin Republic after he was declared wanted by the DSS.