Ogun Imams reject daytime curfew for monarch’s burial rites

The League of Imams and Alfas, Ogun State, on Sunday, raised the alarm over plans by traditionalists to impose a daytime curfew on residents of Ikolaje and Idiroko communities in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

The planned curfew, already generating tension and anxiety in the affected communities, particularly among Muslims and traditionalists, is said to be in connection with the burial rites of the late Oniko of Ikoland, Oba John Adekunle.

In a petition to Governor Dapo Abiodun, dated July 24, 2025, with copies also sent to the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Security Service, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, among others, the Muslim leaders warned that the actions of the traditionalists were in flagrant disobedience to the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees fundamental human rights.

They stated that the move by the traditionalists violated several past stakeholder peace agreements, as well as the January 30, 2017, judgment of the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ipokia, which declared the imposition of a daytime curfew on any community unconstitutional and an outright violation of citizens’ rights.

Justice S.M. Owodunni, who delivered the judgment, also ordered that the Oro festival must be restricted to between midnight and 4:00 am only.

The petition read: “Your Excellency, we have credible reports that certain individuals and groups claiming to be traditional practitioners have commenced activities aimed at imposing a daytime curfew on innocent residents under the guise of performing traditional rites for the late Oniko of Ikoland, Oba John Olakunle.

“These activities began Monday, 21st July, 2025 and are scheduled to continue until 19th August, 2025, during which residents are being threatened with forced restriction of movement, closure of shops, and other infringements on their daily lawful activities.

While the League of Imams and Alfas fully recognises and respects the rights of traditional religion adherents, we unequivocally condemn any attempt to forcefully compromise the fundamental rights of law-abiding citizens contrary to the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and established court judgements.

“We respectfully call the attention of Your Excellency to the following binding legal and administrative positions on this matter: Judgment of the High Court of Ogun State Holden at Ipokia (30th January, 2017).

“The Honourable Justice S.M. Owodunni in Suit No. M/8/2017 declared that no individual or group has the right to impose daytime curfew on any community in Ipokia Local Government; that any such act is unlawful, unconstitutional, and an outright violation of citizens’ fundamental human rights; and that Oro festival must be restricted to between 12 midnight and 4:00 am only.”

It added, “At the stakeholders agreement of 21st August, 2019, representatives of Muslims, Christians and traditionalists (Oro adherents) agreed that Oro festival rites should be held strictly between 12:00 midnight and 4:00 am, with no form of human restrictions or infringement on fundamental rights.”

The Muslim leaders said another broad peace parley held on 27th February, 2020, which had in attendance religious stakeholders, security agencies, the Hausa community, the caretaker chairman of Ipokia Local Government and the late traditional ruler, also agreed that there shall be no daytime curfew, and that Oro activities must be restricted to 12:00 midnight to 4:00 am.

The traditional religion adherents were also said to have agreed at the meeting to avoid worship centres and schools, with a clear warning that breaching this peace accord would attract full responsibility for the leaders involved.

The Yewa Traditional Council, in a letter dated 27th September, 2012, had also prohibited daytime Oro celebrations, a position reaffirmed by the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in a letter dated 11th June, 2018.

The Muslim leaders further stated that breaches of this court judgment and several peace agreements in July 2019 led to the vandalism of a mosque and brutal attacks on Muslim worshippers by Oro and Orisa adherents.

They alleged that the current attempt to impose a daytime curfew, ongoing since 21st July, 2025 and scheduled to persist until 19th August, 2025, was a clear defiance of binding legal and communal resolutions and a threat to peaceful coexistence and the rule of law.

The Muslim leaders called on Governor Abiodun to immediately direct security agencies to halt the ongoing unlawful curfew attempt, protect lives and properties, and prevent intimidation and harassment of innocent citizens.

They also urged the governor to reiterate the standing government policy that strictly restricted Oro rites to 12:00 midnight to 4:00 am, as upheld by court judgment, government circulars, and stakeholder agreements.

The Muslim leaders concluded by urging the governor to hold accountable any individuals or traditional group leaders who persist in violating lawful directives and agreements, while reassuring residents of Ikolaje, Idiroko, and the wider state of their freedom to move, worship, work, and conduct lawful business without fear.

culled from vanguard