In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, intervened to prevent the arrest of Abdulazeez Adegbola, also known as Tani Olohun, in Ibadan, Oyo State. This incident unfolded amid rising tensions surrounding Olohun's advocacy for Isese, the indigenous Yoruba faith.

Eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media depict a chaotic scene as police officers attempted to detain Olohun at his residence. The footage shows a scuffle between the officers and Olohun, who resisted the arrest. A bystander can be heard accusing the officers of being imposters, claiming, "They called themselves police officers. They are not police. They are kidnappers. They are about to kill Tani Olohun. They are bandit."

Further videos reveal that the officers, dressed in civilian clothes and armed, were trying to forcibly take Olohun away. Residents expressed their outrage, with one individual stating, "These people are kidnappers, but they called themselves police. Their vehicle did not have a plate number. Please help us, they want to carry Tani Olohun away. They want to arrest him. They want to kill him."

The situation escalated when Olohun's family reached out to Igboho for assistance. He arrived at the scene with supporters and engaged in discussions with an alleged senior police official over the phone. Igboho informed the official about the tense situation, stating, "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."

This attempted arrest is linked to an ongoing legal case against Tani Olohun, initiated by the Ilorin Heritage Preservation Foundation. The foundation alleges that Olohun's social media posts, which they claim mock Islamic prayers, could incite religious unrest. The case is currently before a court in Ilorin, but it remains unclear whether the police had a valid warrant for the arrest or were acting under a new court order.

The Oyo State Police Command's spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, acknowledged the attempted arrest but refrained from providing further details, stating, "I don’t have a comment. A press release is coming soon."

After the intervention, a visibly shaken Olohun appeared in another video, expressing gratitude to his supporters and highlighting the ordeal he faced. He stated, "To all Yoruba people, I thank you all. This morning, as I stepped out of my house, I encountered them. They attempted to kidnap me and took me away unlawfully. They restrained me. I thank all my people. My special thanks go to the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, and our father, the Olubadan. Thank you all. Most importantly, above all, to Chief Sunday Igboho, I thank you deeply. You are a true son of the Yoruba nation. Just as he always steps up, he did it again today."

Olohun's activism for Isese has previously sparked controversy, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding religious freedom and the preservation of Yoruba cultural practices in Nigeria.