SHOCKER! Masquerade Demands N20m From Muslim Group After Being Beaten

After being allegedly attacked by a Muslim group known as
Kamarudeen Muslim Society last week, a leading
masquerade in Iwo, the headquarters of Iwo Local
Government area of Osun State, called Ogundeji, has
demanded for a sum of N20 million to prepare sacrifice to
avert evil that may follow action of the group.
The masquerade also added that part of the money will
also be used to sew new regalia for the masquerade,
saying the initial one was badly damaged after the
alleged attack by the Muslim group.
According to sources, on Tuesday last week, there was
panic in Iwo town, when Kamarudeen Muslim society
allegedly attacked Ogundeji masquerade, beating him until
he fainted.
During the incident, the Muslim group also allegedly burnt
the regalia of the masquerade, while the handler narrowly
escaped death, but sustained serious
injury.
In its reaction, the Alagbaa of Iwo-land, Chief Ojelana
Ojeseyi, condemned the development, describing the
attack as “unwarranted, barbaric and inhuman”.
He added that “their action violate the fundamental rights
of the traditional worshippers, hence the need for
government and all the relevant agencies to intervene, with
a view to checkmate the inhuman treatment and forestall
its
reoccurrence in the future”.
However, aftermath of the attack, the handler of Ogundeji
masquerade, Mrs. Ogundeji Omo-Babalawo, in her
reaction disclosed that incident had claimed her
ancestors’ inheritance, urging government to come to her
aid by providing N20 million to appease the gods and
make new regalia for the masquerade.
She averred that “it would cost almost N20 million to
prepare concoction and sacrifice to appease spirits of the
burnt masquerade and to design another one”.
Also in their separate reactions, two high chiefs of Iwo
land, Moderin and Mojirin, Prince Abimbola Adegboyega
and Prince Lasunkanmi Tadese, respectively
condemned the attack, saying the
Muslim group had violated the
agreement reached in the palace during a stakeholders
meeting on how to ensure peaceful Egungun festival in the
ancient community.
Commenting, the state Commissioner for Information and
Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, stated that the government
would look into the matter and resolve the issue amicably
so as to ensure religious harmony in the state, stressing
that the incumbent administration was committed to
peaceful co-existence in the
state irrespective of religion and political affliction.
Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer
(PPRO), Mrs. Folashade Odor, said police had already
commenced investigation into the matter, assuring that
anybody found culpable would be made to face the full
wrath of law.