Officers from the Kwara State Police Command attempted to arrest Isese advocate Abdulazeez Adegbola, popularly known as Tani Olohun, at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, but the operation was halted after residents resisted and Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, intervened.
The Oyo State Police Command later confirmed that the officers were acting on an arrest warrant issued by the Upper Ilorin Magistrates’ Court in Kwara State.
Residents Resist Arrest Attempt
Videos circulating online showed plainclothes officers attempting to take Tani Olohun away from his residence as residents gathered around them.
Some residents reportedly accused the men of being kidnappers or bandits, partly because the vehicle being used allegedly had no visible registration number. One of the officers was seen displaying an identity card during the confrontation.
Footage also showed Tani Olohun being pinned to the ground during the scuffle before the situation eventually calmed. He later appeared with torn clothing and a dishevelled appearance.
Kwara Police Had an Arrest Warrant
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that the officers were from Kwara and said they were carrying out an official operation based on a warrant of arrest issued by the Upper Ilorin Magistrates’ Court.
According to the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the warrant relates to allegations of conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
The warrant reportedly followed Tani Olohun’s failure to comply with conditions attached to an earlier bail granted to him.
Case Linked to Social Media Video
The underlying case is reportedly connected to a complaint by the Ilorin Heritage Preservation Foundation over a social media video allegedly mocking an Islamic prayer and capable of creating religious tension.
Tani Olohun, a prominent advocate of Isese, has previously faced legal action in Kwara State over his online activities. He was arrested and remanded in 2023 over allegations including blasphemy and defamation.
Sunday Igboho Intervenes
During Tuesday’s confrontation, family members and residents contacted Sunday Igboho, who arrived at the scene with supporters.
Videos showed Igboho speaking on the phone with a person described as a senior official while explaining the situation and the resistance from residents.
Sources said his intervention prevented the Kwara officers from taking Tani Olohun away, effectively bringing the attempted arrest to an end.
Oyo Police Orders Kwara Officers Back
Following the confrontation, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police directed the Kwara officers to return to their base.
The Oyo command also advised the complainant to approach the appropriate court in Ibadan, where the alleged offence reportedly occurred, in line with due process and territorial jurisdiction.
The command urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding.
Tani Olohun Thanks Supporters
After the incident, Tani Olohun thanked members of the Yoruba community and those he said contributed to resolving the situation.
He specifically mentioned Sunday Igboho, the commissioners of police in Oyo and Kwara states, the Olubadan of Ibadan and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
The confrontation has drawn significant attention online, bringing renewed focus to religious expression, traditional Yoruba faith advocacy and the limits of inter-state police operations.
As of the latest reports, there was no indication that Tani Olohun was arrested following the incident, while further developments in the underlying court case remain awaited.
