Oro worshippers in Iperu, the hometown of Governor Dapo Abiodun, in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Saturday prevented female residents from going about their daily activities.
SWAGE NEWS learnt that the Oro cultists in Iperu had earlier announced that the annual Oro festival would run from July 2 to July 10, and that there would be 24-hour curfew on July 3, resisting women from coming out.
“This is to notify the general public, especially all sons and daughters of Iperu Akesan Baale Oja and its environs, that the announcement has been made to make it public that the 2021 annual Oro/Isemo festival in Iperu Remo shall commence on Friday, the 2nd of July, 2021 and come to an end on Saturday, the 10th of July 2021.
“During this period, females/women movements shall be restricted on all days from 11pm to 5am of the second day with exemption to Saturday, the 3rd day of July, 2021 in which females movements shall be restricted completely for the whole day (I.e. ISEMO DAY). Throughout this period of nine (9) days, all major roads in Iperu shall be opened for motorists and commuters to encourage free flow of businesses and inter-communal relationships as strict security shall be ensured in the community to ward off the menaces of the men of the underworld and criminals. Strict adherence of the above is advised,” a statement by the Oluwo of Iperu, Chief Opeodu Ifasola Saheed read.
It was revealed that those who could not endure the daytime curfew relocated to places like Abeokuta, Sagamu and environs till Sunday.
In 2018, an Ogun State High Court sitting in Ipokia had banned the imposition of daytime curfew on communities, and ruled that Oro festival rituals should only be done at night.
