Oro worshippers truncated last Eid-el-Kabir celebration in about 20 communities of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State last Monday and Tuesday.
No Eid prayer held in the affected communities as the traditionalists imposed curfew and restricted movement of residents.
The traditionalists had consistently flouted a directive by the state and local governments against daytime celebration of the Oro festival. It was learnt that three suspected Oro worshippers were arrested in connection with the attack.
Panicky residents of the affected communities, including Ifoyintedo, Atan-ota, Ita-ege, Iledu, Imule, Iropo, Akopin, Madoga, Ilagbe, Kajola, Osooro, Asipa, Ikorodu/Bola, Idologun, Araromi, Idomogun, Igbo-Atan, Oke – Iwo, Ajelende and Akinde Elepo-Temu/ Kusika were harassed by the traditionalists, it emerged.
The Oro followers also disregarded the instruction of the traditional ruler of Ifoyintedo, Oba Isaac Adetunji Adesiyan, against imposition of curfew and daytime Oro festival celebration in his domain.
The monarch’s secretary, Evangelist James Adeyemi, said during the Eid: “We are confused and equally disturbed that Muslims and Christians are being held hostage by Oro worshippers in defiance of Oba Adesiyan’s directive that the order of the state government and Ipokia Council Area against daytime Oro festival and restriction.
“Today and tomorrow have been declared as public holiday by the federal government but no one can go out now in this town because the traditionalists have kept us indoors since morning. I was almost lynched by the traditionalists after I attempted to beat the gong to tell people to go out on the instruction of the monarch. If not that I beat a retreat, I would have been beaten up by the traditionalists a few hours ago.”
The Chief Imam of Ifoyintedo, Alhaji Taofeek Ogunsoro, said that the traditionalists had initially promised to obey the state government’s directive against daytime Oro celebration only to renege. “I am sad. Instead of being happy on Ileya Day (Eid-el-kabir), my visitors, including family members, have been prevented from celebrating with me because of the mindless restriction by Oro worshippers who have disobeyed Ogun State government’s order stopping their daytime celebration.
“Both the Muslim and Christian communities here had series of meeting with the traditionalists, even on the eve (Sunday) of Ileya, and they promised not to impose curfew or restriction, only for them to start harassing us this morning. There is palpable fear here as we speak and the police have not been able to contain their excesses.”
At Ita Ege village, over 200 traditionalists comprising armed youths were said to have invaded the community to enforce the daytime curfew. The invaders, it was learnt, attacked residents who came out to observe the Eid prayer and headed to the palace of the monarch of the community, Apostle Mathew Ademola Abisoye, but were resisted by youths of the community.
Apostle Abisoye said: “The leader of the Oro worshippers had consulted his counterpart in neighbouring Ifoyintedo, and he was told that there would not be any restriction on Ileya Day.
“We were, however, shocked when about 200 traditionalists armed with dangerous weapons stormed this community to enforce daytime curfew on Monday. They hinged their action on the fact that our community is under the jurisdiction of their king and attacked our people. However, they were resisted by the youths of this community when they headed towards my palace in a bid to vandalise it, and the police from Idiroko Division succeeded in arresting one of them while two others were apprehended in neighbouring villages. The situation would have worsened if the police had not intervened when called upon.”
A community leader and chieftain of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the council area, Pastor Samuel Adelakun, said: “The government declared today and tomorrow as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir muslim festival but traditionalists in Ifoyintedo disrupted the festival by imposing unlawful restriction on people. We asked them not to disturb the peace of this community on a day like this but they refused.
“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Idiroko Division led his men to this community at about 10:00 a.m. and warned the traditionalists against going ahead with their restriction of movement. But they defied the DPO’s warning as soon as he left here and started threatening to harm whoever dared come out. We are, therefore, calling on law enforcement agencies and state authorities to save us from the grip of the heartless traditionalists.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of Ogun Police Command, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, explained that three suspects have been arrested and would be charged to court. He said: “The DPO of Idiroko Division visited the affected communities and told the Oro worshippers that it was not right for them to impose curfew, and that daytime Oro celebration was unlawful. However, three suspects were arrested in connection with the disturbance and they will be moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, tomorrow (Wednesday) for further investigation.
“A few weeks ago, stakeholders, including leadership of CAN, Muslim community and traditionalists, had a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the state command in Abeokuta and they signed an agreement to obey the law banning the daytime Oro festival in the state.
I can assure you that the police will arrest anyone found during investigation to be connected with the disturbance, and suspects will be charged to court. It is unfortunate that Oro worshippers are disobeying the order by the state government on stoppage of their daytime festival that comes with curfew or restriction of people.”
At least 20 were injured in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State on Saturday August 27, 2016 after a group of Oro worshippers attacked Christians during street evangelism on the popular Idiroko road that leads to the Customs checkpoint at the border between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
The incident occurred at about 11:00 a.m. at the Iko Grammar School junction shortly after the victims and other members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the council area began the street evangelism from St. James African Cathedral Church in the Mede area of Ajegunle.
The Nation reported on Saturday, August 20, 2016 outrage by residents and Christians after worshippers of the Oro cult flouted a directive by the state government to stop daytime celebration of its traditional festival and imposition of curfew.
The worshippers had restricted human and vehicular movement from Friday, August 12 to Sunday, August 14 in disobedience of the Ogun State Government’s directive. The government banned daytime Oro activities in all parts of the state on June 17, 2013 via a release with number OGR/OL/13 dated June 17, 2013 in Ogun State, but the dreadful Oro cult group in Ipokia Local Government resisted the order.
The Ipokia Local Government had also warned the Ifoyintedo Oro Festival Association to desist from imposing curfew and stop daytime celebration of their festival vide a letter dated August 26 and signed by the Director, General Services and Administration of the Local Government Area, Mr M.A. Adewole.
A copy of the letter titled ‘Re: Approval for Oro Festival’, reads in part: “I am directed to refer you to your letter dated 12th August, 2016 on the above subject matter and to succinctly remind you of the existing Ogun State Law that strictly forbid any form of day curfew (Isede) in any part of the state while performing any religious or traditional rites.
“Based on this, an approval is granted to you to perform the Oro festival from 28th August to 20th September, 2016 in Ifoyintedo, Alaari, Ita Ege, Afuye, Atan-Ota, Imule, Madoga, Iledu, Ilagbe, Iropo, Akopin, Kajola, Osooro, Asipa, Ikorodu/Bola, Idologun-Araomi, Idomogun, Igbo-Atan, Oke-Iwo, Ajelende, Idomogun/Igbo-Atan, Akinde and Elepo-Temu/Kusika.
“However, I am further directed to stress that on no account should you impose any form of day curfew (Isede) during the celebrations, that is, 28th August to 20th September, 2016. May I add that Oro celebration should not disturb free movement of traffic along the main road. This is very important in order, not to contravene the existing law/pronouncement of the state regulating any traditional /religious activities.“
A cross-section of residents urged the security agencies to apprehend chieftains of the Oro associations in order to contain their excesses. “The chieftains of the Oro worshippers should be arrested and prosecuted. This is necessary to stop the menacing traditionalists once and for all,” said a resident, Adebayo Akanni.
