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NEWS

Yoruba Rights Advocate Adedamola Adetayo Missing Amid Police Intimidation Claims

January 2, 2026 • 3 min read

By Ademola Adekusibe
January 2, 2026

Abeokuta-based writer, public analyst, social commentator and Yoruba rights advocate, Adedamola Adetayo, has been declared missing following weeks of reported police harassment and intimidation linked to his writings on Yoruba identity, cultural preservation and political interests.

Adetayo, a vocal proponent of the “Think Yoruba First” ideology and a leading voice in the Yoruba self-determination movement, had earlier raised alarm that his life, liberty and health were at risk after what he described as sustained procedural abuse by the Nigeria Police Force.

According to his account, the situation began on November 27, 2025, when he received a phone call from a man who identified himself as Shaibu Omachonu of the Life Camp Police Division in Abuja. The caller reportedly informed him that the police were acting on a petition and an alleged court directive over claims of criminal defamation, said to have been filed by Olusola Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and politician from Ondo State.

Adetayo stated that despite repeated requests, the police failed to provide him with a copy of the petition, any court order, or written details of the allegations. He was instead instructed verbally to report to the Life Camp Police Division in Abuja.

At the time, Adetayo was based in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He said he attempted twice to travel to Abuja by road but aborted both trips after receiving security warnings about kidnappings and violent attacks along the Kabba–Lokoja–Abuja route. He questioned why the police insisted on Abuja when his statement could legally be taken in closer locations such as Abeokuta, Ibadan or Lagos, or through his lawyers.

A written police invitation was eventually issued on December 15, 2025, weeks after the initial contact and only after Adetayo’s legal team filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta. He expressed fear that the timing, during the festive season when courts sit minimally, could expose him to prolonged detention without effective judicial oversight.

Adetayo also disclosed that he suffers from hypertension and asthma, warning that long-distance travel, stress or detention could pose serious health risks. He alleged bias on the part of the investigating officers and claimed the Life Camp Police Division has a history of human rights abuses.

At the centre of the dispute are Adetayo’s writings on Yoruba cultural survival, including discussions on identity, inter-ethnic relations and traditional practices. He maintained that his writings were ideological opinions protected under free expression and not defamatory or criminal.

In a message circulated publicly before he went missing, Adetayo warned that any report of his arrest or detention not personally communicated by him should be treated as confirmation of police action against his will. He said his statements were being placed on record in case anything untoward happened to him, adding that responsibility would rest with the police authorities involved.

His disappearance has sparked growing concern among activists and civil society actors, who are calling for urgent clarification of his whereabouts and accountability from the Nigeria Police Force. Observers warn that the case raises serious questions about abuse of power, police intimidation and the shrinking space for free expression and cultural advocacy in Nigeria.