Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, reportedly intervened to stop police officers from arresting Abdulazeez Adegbola, better known as Tani Olohun, an advocate of Isese, the indigenous Yoruba faith, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday.

The reported arrest attempt occurred at Tani Olohun’s residence amid an ongoing criminal case filed against him by the Ilorin Heritage Preservation Foundation over a social media video the foundation alleged mocked an Islamic prayer and could cause religious tension.

Sources told SaharaReporters that police officers arrived at Tani Olohun’s residence on Tuesday morning and attempted to take him away.

The sources said members of his family subsequently contacted Igboho, who arrived at the scene with some supporters and resisted the police attempt to arrest Tani Olohun.

“Immediately the police tried to arrest Tani Olohun, his family called Sunday Igboho, and he came immediately with his boys and resisted the police from taking him away on Tuesday morning,” one of the sources told SaharaReporters.

Another source said Igboho arrived after Tani Olohun had already engaged in a scuffle with the police officers.

“Sunday Igboho later came after Tani Olohun had a scuffle with the police, and he told the police to hand over Tani Olohun to him, that they could not arrest him despite the court issuing a warrant of arrest against Tani Olohun,” the source said.

However, the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest attempt, including whether the officers had a valid warrant or were acting on a fresh court order, were not immediately clear.

In a live video shared on Facebook, relatives of Tani Olohun were heard alleging that the men who arrived at the residence identified themselves as police officers.

The men, who appeared to be dressed in civilian clothes and carrying firearms, were seen attempting to take Tani Olohun away.

“These people are kidnappers but they called themselves kidnappers. Tani Olohun is not going anywhere. The public please see them, they called themselves police but see the way they are acting,” a relative said during the broadcast.

“Please help us, they want to carry Tani Olohun away. They want to arrest him. They want to kill him,” the relative added.

Footage seen by SaharaReporters also showed Tani Olohun sitting beside a tap while two police officers stood close to him.

The video appeared to capture a tense confrontation between Tani Olohun and the officers, with the attempted arrest reportedly resulting in a scuffle.

A man recording the incident could also be heard accusing the officers of behaving like “bandits.”

According to the man, the officers travelled from Ilorin, Kwara State, to Ibadan to carry out the arrest. He also questioned their identities and the circumstances surrounding the operation, alleging that the vehicle they used did not have a visible registration number.

The reported arrest attempt comes amid a criminal case instituted against Tani Olohun by the Ilorin Heritage Preservation Foundation.

The foundation accused him of publishing a video on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok that allegedly mocked an Islamic sacred prayer and contained material capable of causing religious tension.

It alleged that the video attracted hostile comments against Muslims and amounted to incitement of religious disturbance, contempt of religious creed and injurious falsehood.

The complaint was reportedly filed under Sections 114, 210 and 393(1) of the Penal Code Law of Kwara State.

The case is before the Upper Area Court II, Ilorin Judicial Division.

The court reportedly last heard the matter and adjourned proceedings until September 1, 2026. Neither Tani Olohun nor his lawyer was present at the hearing, while counsel to the Ilorin Heritage Preservation Foundation, Barrister Ademola Ajasa, reportedly expressed surprise at their absence.

The development has raised questions over the legal basis for Tuesday's reported arrest attempt, particularly with the case still before the court.

Meanwhile, one of the sources who spoke about Igboho's intervention claimed that the Yoruba Nation agitator could face legal consequences for allegedly obstructing the police.

“The court will deal with Sunday Igboho himself for stopping the police from arresting Tani Olohun,” the source said.

However, that claim could not be independently verified.

Tani Olohun is a prominent advocate of Isese and has previously been involved in controversies concerning traditional religion, religious freedom and the preservation of Yoruba cultural practices.

The allegations against him in the Ilorin case remain unproven until determined by the court.

Efforts to reach Olayomi Koiki, Igboho's spokesperson and media coordinator, for his reaction to the reported intervention were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.