According to reports, three people were killed following a violent battle between competing cult groups during the Osun Osogbo festival.
Fighting broke out at the grand finale of the renowned worldwide traditional festival, resulting in 12 more people suffering injuries of varied severity.
Although the cause of the altercation and the identities of the deceased victims are yet unknown, It was learned that hoodlums were spotted openly wielding various hazardous weapons.
The many hoodlums that arrived also ruined the festivities, terrifying locals and visitors in the Jaleyemi and Isale-Osun regions of Osogbo.
The Chairman of the Hunters Group of Nigeria, Ahmed Nureni, confirmed the occurrence and stated three dead had been seen around the grove in addition to 10 other members of the group being hurt.
Nureni also disclosed that the staff members of the nearby Hunters and Forest Security Service office were hurt in the attack and vandalism.
“We sighted three dead bodies, though we don’t know their identities. Meanwhile, our office in the Jaleyemi area was also vandalised and in the process, the ten personnel were injured.”
Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba country, disapproved of the development as well.
Adams, who announced this while speaking to the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, also termed the cult conflict as an invasion of the Osun grove intended to degrade the reputation of the Osun Osogbo celebration on a global scale.
In order to preserve the sacredness of the spiritual celebration, he emphasized the necessity for stakeholders to provide proper protection for tourists and other guests.
“It is unfortunate that cultists and miscreants have been taking advantage of the hospitality of the festival to create a platform for cult rivalry, which the Osun goddess abhors and we must collectively stop the trend.
“This is an opportunity for Osun and Nigeria to attract tourism development. Osun-Osogbo is renowned globally and we must protect and project it to the whole world.”
