Residents Tackle Monarch Over Planned ORO Shrine!

One of the protester
Residents and monarchs of Onigbedu Community in the Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State, are at loggerheads over the construction of an Oro shrine in the place.

Oro is a dreaded cult feared, especially by women, in the South West Nigeria. It shrieks in a strange voice and manner meant to instil fears.
While the residents said the planned shrine would disturb the inter-religious peace in the community, the....
monarchs, led by Oba Matthew Ajibulu, said it would not.

Some of the residents, who spoke during a visit to the community, said they had been living in fear since the issue was mentioned by the monarchs.

They further said their fear was confirmed when some residents were injured during a protest against the construction of the shrine.

One of them, the Chairman of Onigbedu Community Development Association, Lukman Kazeem, described the shrine as a threat.

He claimed that despite warnings and protest against the building of the shrine, some monarchs still went ahead with the Oro activities without informing residents of the community.

He said, “A week after our meeting, they went ahead with their plans. Most people were caught unawares, especially our women. According to tradition, it is a taboo for women to witness any Oro ritual. Most workers working in companies nearby, who closed late on that fateful day, were not spared as many had to sleep in the bush to avert being used for rituals.

“We are scared; we don’t want such a thing here. For about three months now, we have been hearing alarming reports. Our lives would be in danger if this shrine is established in our community.”

Another resident in the community, Musibau Ayoade, claimed Oro was strange to them in the community.

The man, who claimed to have been living in the community for years, said such activities was not part of the tradition in Onigbedu.

He appealed to security operatives, state and local governments to intervene in the matter.

He added, “We are a Christian and Muslim dominated community, we are suspicious of the recent ritual activities in the community. We are wary of any shrine that will cause the kidnapping of the people for ritual purposes.”

The monarch of Onigbedu, Oba Mathew Ajibulu, however, accused the residents of spreading falsehood.

He explained that proper awareness was made before the commencement of the Oro activities, adding that the practice was not strange to the community.

He said, “Those complaining are in the minority. Their claim that the practice is strange to this community is not true. Since I have been in this community, we have performed Oro rituals to appease the gods. We do it yearly and elders and traditional rulers participate in it.

“This particular one they are protesting against is not expected to be done by only our community; it also held in Itori, Olujobi and other towns. It is to send evil away from the towns. It is for our peace and those complaining know about it.

“The Oro activities were duly announced and everyone was informed. We respect government policy on the matter and we are not law breakers.”

Police Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, however, said the police was not aware of any Oro-related issue in the towns.

“No case of such was reported to the police,” Adejobi said in a text message.