Three persons have been feared dead and 12 others injured following a violent clash between rival cult groups around the Osun-Osogbo ancient groove during the festival’s grand finale.
Politics Nigeria learnt that the cultists, armed with an assortment of weapons ranging from axes and pump-action guns to knives and charms, used intimidation tactics to assert their dominance over other groups present.
The cultists engaged in a bloody clash few meters away from the pavilion where Governor Ademola Adeleke was seated alongside the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and other dignitaries.
The sound of gunfire and the exchange of blows echoed through the air, causing distress among attendees.
According to reports, all of these took place despite the presence of security personnel, including the Police, Nigerian Army, DSS, NSCDC, Amotekun, and local hunters.
The clash did not only disrupt the festivities but also claimed lives of three individuals.
Reacting, Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kankafo of Yoruba land, expressed deep dismay at the unfortunate turn of events.
He lamented the exploitation of the festival’s hospitality by cultists and miscreants to fuel a platform for violent cult rivalries.
Adams urged for collective effort to quell cultism in the state.
“It is unfortunate that cultist and miscreants have been taken advantage of the hospitality of the festival to create a platform for cult rivalry which Osun goddess abhors and we must collectively stop the trend,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for Osun and Nigeria to attract tourism development. Osun-Osogbo is renown globally and we must protect and project it to the whole world. Nothing must the advancement of the festival and by extension Yoruba tradition,” he added.
Also, the chairman of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, Ahmed Nurein, lamented the level of insecurity at the celebration of the grand finale of the festival.
He said, “I sighted three corpses on the floor after the cultist clash. After that, some cultists were moving around Isale Osun through Jaleyemi, they were brandishing weapons. They invaded our office around that area and vandalised property. They injured ten of my men. It is unfortunate!”
Earlier, Governor Ademola Adeleke, addressed the people saying: “This year’s celebration therefore provides the greatest opportunity ever for our people to have a new look at our culture and tradition. We are challenged to capitalise on our rich culture to build an economically sound and virile nation.
“As a government, our administration has a tourism and cultural industry agenda. During the campaign and within the transition committee, we devised far reaching programmes and policies for the arts, culture and tourism industry. We indeed created a new holistic approach by adding the creative industry as a whole”.
