Tension In Ogun As Muslims And Traditional Worshippers Clash

There was palpable tension in Ikenne,Ogun State, yesterday, when the Oro cult imposed a 24-hour restriction of movement in the town in defiance of an order by Ogun State government.

The flagrant defiance occurred few hours after some Islamic leaders in the town were attacked by Oro cultists for reporting them to government over the planned restriction of movement.

Muslims in the area had petitioned the state government and other stakeholders in the state which led to a peace meeting held on Wednesday at the instance of the state governent.

At the end of the meeting, government ordered the Oro cult group in Ikenne to restrict their activities of their on-going annual festival to their own section of the town.

It further ordered the deployment of policemen in the town to enforce the order,but, when Sunday Vanguard visited the town yesterday, neither policemen nor any other security operatives were seen.

The whole town was deserted as doors and windows of houses in the town were firmly shut.
There was also no human and vehicular movement in the town except the adherents of the Oro cult group that were seen in some parts of the town dressed like females.

By tradition,it is forbiden for women to behold the Oro cult members while on procession.

It was gathered that several residents of the town who did not want to be caught up in the no-movement order imposed by the Oro cult group left the town on Friday for neighbouring communities.

In his reaction, the Chairman of Ikenne local government, Mr Tajudeen Salako, said the action of the group should not be seen as a defiance of the state government order.

He however appealed to the people of Ikenne to endure the restriction imposed by the Oro cult in the town.

When asked to comment on the attack on Muslims, Salako said he was aware that Oro cultists threatened Muslims, adding that it had been reported to the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Muyiwa Adejobi, however, said that the police were monitoring the situation in the town.