Tension in ogun as Muslims traditionalists 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.