Community leaders and residents of Idiroko, a border town in Ogun State’s Ipokia Local Government Area, have raised alarm over what they described as a looming religious crisis in the area.
They accused some individuals of inciting political and religious tension by attacking Oro worshippers during their court-approved night rituals. The long-standing opposition to the annual Oro festival has recently gained wider attention on social media.
The dispute between Muslims, Christians and traditionalists in the area centres on the daytime curfew historically imposed during the festival. In 2017, the Ogun State High Court in Ipokia ruled such curfews unconstitutional, ordering that Oro rituals be confined to between midnight and 4 a.m.
However, in July 2025, the League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State accused Oro adherents of breaching the court’s ruling by allegedly enforcing a daytime curfew during the burial of the late Oniko of Ikolaje, Oba John Adekunle. In a petition dated July 24 and sent to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the group described the action as a violation of fundamental rights and urged security agencies to intervene to avert unrest.
On Thursday, traditional, religious, ethnic and youth leaders — including representatives of Hausa and Igbo residents — held a joint press conference at the Oniko of Ikolaje’s palace calling for an immediate end to the clashes.
Speaking at the event, community spokesperson Taiwo Obanla said Idiroko’s reputation was being damaged by what he called the actions of religious extremists. According to him, Oro practitioners have already complied with the court ruling by restricting their rituals to nighttime hours.
“These people are outsiders trying to erase traditions and culture that have existed here for centuries,” he said, urging government and security agencies to probe those behind the unrest. Obanla alleged that some of the agitators spread false information, including claims of deaths during the festival, and even arrested teenagers at night, threatening to jail them.
Balogun of Ikolaje, Daniel Olusola Edun, warned that the town would not tolerate attempts to disrupt its peace. Venerable Samuel Olugbade of St. Paul’s African Church added that in his experience, Oro worshippers had never harmed anyone, noting years of peaceful coexistence.
Chief Imam of Ikolaje Idiroko, Tajudeen Okeojo, also called for interfaith harmony, revealing that his own parents had once been traditional worshippers before converting to Islam. He said previous generations of leaders ensured the festival did not disrupt Friday or Sunday prayers, which helped sustain peace.
Representatives of the Hausa community, Ishaya Manasseh, and of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chinedu Desmond, both confirmed that their members had not been negatively affected by Oro rituals.
The leaders appealed to the government to act swiftly to prevent further escalation.
