The woman at the centre of the on-going face-off between the Muslim Community and traditionalists in Ikorodu over her alleged forceful initiation into the Awopa Fraternity, Mrs Alaba Balikis Taiwo, has denied having any pact with the traditional worshippers.
Mrs Taiwo, according to the report gathered, was abducted in December last year by the members of the Awopa fraternity and forcefully initiated into the traditional group against her wish despite being a practicing muslim.
As soon as the news of the incident broke, the Ikorodu Muslim Community was said to have risen in the defence of Mrs. Taiwo and instituted a court case against the traditionalists.
In an interview with Oriwu Sun, Mrs. Taiwo, who was completely traumatised and shattered by the rough treatment she went through in the hands of the traditionalists, vehemently denied the allegation by the Awopa fraternity that she had been following her late mother to their meetings during her life time and that she was given part of the money shared at their last gathering which she attended.
While she admitted that her mother was part of the traditionalists until her death, she said that none of her children had anything to do with the Awopa fraternity before or after her demise.
“I am a muslim and I have been practicing Islam before my mother died. My mother was their member, though, we (children) attended her installation ceremony just to honour her as our mother and that was all.
“My mother died over 10 years ago, why is it now that they want to force me into their fold. I am a muslim and l can’t have anything to do with them at all”.
While narrating the sad experience of her forceful abduction and initiation, Mrs. Taiwo, who was moved close to tears, said the incident happened on December 9, 2021, when she accompanied her brother to the Awopa cult to resolve a family issue brought against him by one of their nephews named Shakiru, over a landed property left for them by their late father. She added that she wouldn’t have encountered the traditionalists if she had not followed her brother to their territory but because no family member showed up.
She said that despite that she did not follow her brother into the Awopa cult chamber at Ejina, where the issue was being resolved, the traditionalists ordered some of their female members to abduct her immediately they sighted her afar where she was waiting for her brother, and dragged her into their chamber where they attempted to forcefully initiate her.
“The incident happened on December 9 when l followed my brother to the Awopa chamber where a case had been instituted against him by our nephew over our father’s house. If l had not go there, they wouldn’t have been able to do what they did to me.
“When we got there, l told my brother that I won’t go inside with them, so, I stayed some distance away from the place, but despite that, one of the traditionalists called my name immediately she saw me from afar and asked why I was running from them, but I replied that I was not avoiding them since they had come to assist us to resolve our family issue.
“But before l could know it, l saw some female members of the group suddenly grabbing me and forcefully dragged me into their chamber. After they took me inside, l was blindfolded with a cloth while some of the female members with canes started beating me. After they removed the cloth from my face, they started pouring local gin drink on my face.
At this stage, l felt that the blood and water in my body were drying up because l had been put through a lot of stress. It got to a stage that l could not even cry again as l was left with no strength in me because l was having my menstruation at that time. Even when l told them that l was going through pains because of my menstruation, they didn’t listen to me, instead, one of them forcefully removed my clothes and pad and covered me with a wrapper.”
Mrs Taiwo said that despite that she was weak, she still managed to struggle with them to prevent them from forcing her through the process of initiation.
“I went through hell inside the chamber. But despite not having enough strength, I still managed to struggle with them. As they were trying to force me through the initiation process, l kept telling them that I am a practicing muslim and that l am not interested in joining them, but they refused to listen to me as they continued dragging me ruthlessly around the room. They also took me around the town, including my mother’s house where she was buried. It was a really tough experience for me”.
She added that after the incident, she was invited by the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, regarding the issue, but that she refused and instead reported and sought the help of Sheikh Monsuru Majolagbe, Mufti (Jurist) of Muslims in Ikorodu.
Also, Mrs Taiwo also described as a blatant lie the claim by the traditionalists that Sheikh Majolagbe attacked one of the leaders of the Awopa fraternity (Alapinni) in his home.
According to her, it was Alapinni that attacked the Mufti and tore his cloth into shreds when he accompanied her to appeal to the Awopa leader to let go of her.
“They are lying. It was Alapinni that attacked us when we went to his house. I was asked to write a letter to the Awopa fraternity to explain to them that l am muslim and that they should leave me alone since l don’t want to join them. It was this letter that Sheikh Majolagbe and my brother followed me to submit to Alapini in his house.
“When we got there, we sat down with him and were discussing peacefully until when he said that all the muslims in Ikorodu cannot rescue me from them to which Sheikh Majolagbe replied that if that is his stance, then all traditionalists in the town cannot initiate me into their group.
“On hearing the Mufti’s response, Alapinni flared up and became aggressive. At this stage, Sheikh Majolagbe and l sensed danger and we immediately ran out of his house, while my brother was trying to calm him down, but he ran after us to the other side of the road and grabbed Mufti’s clothes and started hitting him with blows”.
She explained further that Sheikh Majolagbe did not retaliate even after his clothes was torn by Alapinni, while she added that people in the area made attempt to take side with Alapinni but that she told them to steer clear of the issue as it did not concern them.
Mrs Taiwo said that Sheikh Majolagbe and herself were eventually rescued from the scene by an acquaintance of the Mufti who saw him being attacked by Alapini while driving by.
She stated that her family and husband are already aware of her ordeal and are equally embittered – what the traditionalists did to her.
However, while stating that she had already instructed her lawyer to seek redress for her against the traditionalists in court, when the traditionalists appeared to have refused all entreaties to let go of her, she appealed to the muslim community and government to rescue her completely from the adamant Awopa fraternity so that she can have the freedom to live her life and practice Islam peacefully.