Olubadan Ladoja Issues Stern Warning for Peaceful Egungun Festival

The annual Egungun Festival commenced on Monday in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, prompting a strong admonition from the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja. The monarch specifically urged masqueraders and their accompanying crowds to refrain from any form of violence throughout the celebration, emphasizing that unlawful acts would face legal consequences.

Through a statement released on Sunday by his chief spokesman, Adeola Oloko, Oba Ladoja characterized the festival as a deeply rooted yearly tradition that honors the heritage, practices, and customs of the Ibadan community. He was quoted saying, “The festival is dedicated to celebrating our lore, customs and traditions. It is a moment to showcase the evolution of our society, social cohesion, family unity and solidarity through the offering of sacrifices. It is a time to reflect on our history as a people, where we are coming from and where we are today. It is worth celebrating with drumbeats, dance and merriment." The monarch reiterated his caution, stating, "So, I want to warn masqueraders and their followers to eschew violence during and after the festival, as violent conduct of any kind is punishable under the law.”

Furthermore, the Olubadan underscored that the festive period should not be exploited for settling long-standing grievances, engaging in power struggles, or initiating revenge attacks between rival masquerade groups or individuals.

Oba Ladoja also reassured the populace that his palace had finalized all essential preparations to guarantee a smooth and incident-free event. He called upon the public to collaborate with law enforcement officials to uphold peace and order, noting that "masquerades should not go beyond the routes and time allotted to them by security agencies."