Leaders of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, including Professor Banji Akintoye and Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, have formally requested President Bola Tinubu to initiate secession negotiations. The group has given the Nigerian government until June 15, 2024, to respond to their demand for a peaceful separation of the Yoruba people from Nigeria.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, the movement's leaders asked for the establishment of a government negotiation team and called for the inclusion of international observers from the United Nations, African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States in the talks.
The request follows persistent attacks and instability in Yoruba regions, attributed to Fulani herdsmen. According to reports referenced by the movement, these conflicts have led to the deaths of approximately 29,000 Yoruba people since 2015 and have severely impacted local agriculture, pushing the region towards potential famine.
The movement leaders argue that the ongoing violence and the inability of proposed national restructuring efforts to effectively address these security concerns justify their call for independence. They express a lack of confidence in the restructuring process, fearing it would not prevent future incursions into their territories.
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