At least 5 people have been reported dead while several others sustained injuries after hoodlums attack a feared Ibadan masquerade named “Oloolu” on Thursday evening after it appeared in public for its annual ritual performance around Oje area of Ibadan.
An eye witness said, the hoodlums, about 80 of them were armed with machetes, clubs, and cutlasses allegedly assaulted the masquerade at the tail end of the annual ritual performance.
Oba Wahab Ajijola Anabi, the National President of Soludero Hunters Association, talking about what he knew about the incidence asserted that he was aware of the assault on the masquerade by some angry gangsters.
He said: “Yes, I was part of the entourage of Oloolu when the ritual was being performed by the masquerade. It is an annual sacrifice the masquerade performs around the city to ensure peace reigns in Oyo state”.
“The masquerade started the rituals in the morning and he was about concluding it in the evening at Oje when some youths, without any provocation, swooped on the masquerade and people that followed him”.
“They were many. From the way I saw them, they were about 80. They killed no fewer than five people. Among the attackers was a popular hoodlum called “Star boy”. He is very deadly. The youths were brandishing cutlasses, guns and other dangerous weapons.”
“As of this morning (Friday), four boys were injured when they were attacked by the hoodlums. They are being moved from one place to another for treatment.”
“Governor Seyi Makinde should try to empower these local security agencies. Now, the hunters, Agbekoya, Vigilante and Landlord Association will ensure that all the hoodlums are arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution”.
Also, the Iyaloja of Oje Market, Alhaja Oluwakemi Laaro Akala, recounted her ordeal at the mercies of the destructive hoodlums said the youths almost set her shop ablaze after chasing her sales girls away.
“The government should please help us in checking the excesses of these hoodlums”, she said.
As at the time this report was filed, the Oyo state Police Relations Officer, CSP Gbenga Fadeyi has claimed he was oblivious to this occurrence of this particular situation.
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