Muslim And Egungun Worshipers’ Crisis Leaves 25 People Injured In Oyo State
-Ojo Oluwasegun
About twenty-five people have been reportedly injured in a clash between some Muslims and Egungun worshipers (Masqueraders) in Kishi, Oke-Ogun area of Oyo state.
The ugly incident is happening at a time the traditional ruler of the town, Oba (Engineer) Moshood Aweda Lawal Arowoduye 11, the Iba of Kishi is celebrating his 20th coronation anniversary, which is to hold between May 4th(Today) and 6th, 2017.
Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu confirmed the incident to journalists.
Ajisebutu revealed that the state police command has now provided adequate security to restore peace in the town.
It was gathered that problem started on Tuesday when a Muslim cleric identified as Alfa Lati, insisted that masqueraders observing the annual Egungun festival should not pass through his (Alfa Lati) street, located at Koso, Mapo area of the town.
The masqueraders considered this as an affront to their own religion, and passed through the street, claiming that Kishi town belongs to every indigene of the town, irrespective of religious affiliation.
It was also gathered that following an instruction from Alfa Lati, his followers reportedly attacked the masquerade (Egungun) with stones and other dangerous weapons, a situation that forced the Egungun to remove his mask, and ran for dear life.
In the melee that ensued, no fewer than 15 followers of the masquerade reportedly sustained serious injuries, and this made the furious Egungun worshippers to plan a reprisal attack on Wednesday.
It was also learnt that some of the injured persons have been taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara state for medical treatment.
Reacting to the incident, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the International Council for Ifa Religion, Oyo state chapter, Baba Awo Awogbemiga Bogunmbe called on the police and other security agencies to ensure that justice is done.
While condemning the attack on the Egungun worshipers, Bogunmbe noted that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes the country a multi-religious one in which every citizen is free to practice whatever religion of his or her choice.
He noted that there was no time traditional religion worshippers disrupted activities of adherents of other religions in the country, calling on the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, to use his good offices to liberate traditional religion against perpetual oppression by “foreign religions”
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