Leaders and residents of Idiroko, a border town in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, have raised concerns about what they described as a looming religious crisis.
They alleged that some individuals were fueling political discord by attacking Oro worshippers during their court-approved night rituals. The dispute, tied to longstanding opposition to the annual Oro festival, has in recent months dominated discussions on social media.
For years, Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers in the area have clashed over the daytime curfew traditionally linked to the festival. However, in 2017, the Ogun State High Court ruled that any such curfew was unconstitutional, directing that Oro rituals must only take place between midnight and 4 a.m.
Despite the ruling, the League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State, in a petition to Governor Dapo Abiodun dated July 24, 2025, accused Oro adherents of violating the order during the burial rites of the late Oniko of Ikolaje, Oba John Adekunle. The petition described the action as an infringement on human rights and urged security agencies to intervene.
At a press conference on Thursday at the Oniko’s palace, community, ethnic, and religious leaders—including Hausa, Igbo, youth, and women representatives—called for peace and restraint.
Community spokesman, Taiwo Obanla, said the unrest was being fueled by “religious extremists,” accusing them of trying to erase local traditions despite Oro worshippers’ compliance with the court order.
“These people are not indigenes of this town. How can outsiders come here and try to erase our centuries-old traditions and culture?” Obanla asked. He also accused them of spreading falsehoods and intimidating youths during last year’s festival.
The Balogun of Ikolaje, Daniel Olusola Edun, stressed that Idiroko remained a peaceful town and warned that its stability must not be undermined.
Venerable Samuel Olugbade of St. Paul’s African Church added, “In all my years here, I have never seen Oro worshippers kill or harm anyone. I was born and raised here, and I’ve witnessed peaceful co-existence.”
Chief Imam of Ikolaje Idiroko, Tajudeen Okeojo, echoed calls for harmony, recalling that Oro rituals had long been aligned with religious schedules to prevent clashes.
Representatives of the Hausa and Igbo communities, Ishaya Manasseh and Chinedu Desmond, affirmed that their members had never been negatively affected by Oro practices.
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