Not less than 5 people and have been reported dead while several others injured after a gang of hoodlum attack a feared Ibadan masquerade; Oloolu on Thursday evening during its annual ritual performance around Oje area of Ibadan.
According to eye witness reports, the hoodlums, numbering about 80 who were armed with machetes, clubs and cutlasses allegedly attacked the masquerade at when the annual rites were almost completed.
The National President of Soludero Hunters Association, Oba Wahab Ajijola Anabi while speaking of his knowledge about the incidence affirmed that he was aware of the attack 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 round 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 at 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”.
Iyaloja of Oje Market, Alhaja Oluwakemi Laaro Akala while recounting her own ordeal at the hands of the destructive hoodlums said the youths threatened to 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.
Meanwhile, the Oyo state Police Relations Officer, CSP Gbenga Fadeyi as at the time of filing this report said he is unaware of such development in the area.
