We’re Not Involved In Ritual Killings – Osun Traditionalists Declare
The Traditional Religion Worshippers’ Association of Osun State (TRWASO), has said it is not involved in any act of ritual killing, noting that tenets of the religion is against such practice.
OSUN DEFENDER reported on March 24, 2024, that residents discovered remains of a homeless woman on a vacant land behind some shops directly opposite Osogbo Local Government Secretariat
The dastardly act was suspected to be the handiwork of ritualists who dumped her body after severing her head. It was gathered that the assailants also cut off her two hands.
The incident, however, caused fear among residents of the area.
Also, the Osun state police command on Friday, April 19, 2024, arrested three suspected ritualists for luring a 45-year-old woman, Usman Aminat to Ibadan, where she was killed for ritual purposes.
In an address on Tuesday, the president of TRWASO, Oluseyi Atanda, directed law enforcement agents to thoroughly prosecute and investigate any individual caught engaging in the act, maintaining that ritual killing is alien to traditional religion and culture.
Speaking on the importance of tradition in the selection of monarchs, Atanda, who called on the state government to allow the use of the Ifa system in the selection of traditional rulers, also urged that kingmakers be allowed to play their traditional role in the emergence of Obas.
According to him: “Isese is not associated with ritual killings or money rituals. Anybody caught by law enforcement officers should be thoroughly investigated and, if guilty, be prosecuted accordingly. There is no verse of Ifa that prescribes money ritual and our fathers have said that money ritual is alien to our religion and culture.
“We enjoin our youths to be wary of the kind of friends they associate with as the present viral case is a clear association of greed, bad company, and borrowed culture as revealed in the viral video. Olorisas are GOD-fearing and loving people and we must always be examples of true believers of GOD. Let us show by example.
“Osun State Government is commended for attempting to correct some anomalies in the selection process of Obas, but we also advise that Kingmakers should be allowed to play their traditional role while allowing the Ifa system of selection to prevail. Oba is a traditional title and any Prince who is not ready to embrace the tradition of our forefathers should not go near the throne. If he chooses to do so, let him go through the traditional IPEBI and he will be accepted. It is time to stop the trend of Obas who embarrass our cherished heritage”. he said
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
