There are indications that some traditional sects are still engaging in the habit of forcing residents against their wish into cult groups which is contrary to the directive of traditional ruler of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Salaudeen Afolabi Adekoya Oyefusi, GCIO, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu.
The unfortunate developments may once again, put the traditional institution in collision with the Ikorodu Muslim Community which had severally engaged in series of face-offs with different traditional sects against forcing Muslims into their folds.
In order to prevent a religious war, Oba Oyefusi, who himself is a practicing Muslim brokered an agreement between the custodians of the community tradition and culture and the Muslim community that no practicing Muslim will be forced against his or her wish by their parents, family or traditionalist into sect.
Oriwu Sun gathered that the resolution which has been complied with has however been broken by a sect which in the recent time fear that their cultural practice would go into extinct if new members are not joining especially young boys and girls.
The recent case was that of a mother of three, Ajagun Adio Shadiat, who is currently in the custody of the Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) Ikorodu branch, due to an attempt by a particular sect to forcefully retrieve and initiated her.
Meanwhile, a source within NASFAT, Ikorodu branch, confirmed to our reporter that some concerned Muslim clerics had made contact with the branch from Epe concerning the victim, adding that she is currently in their custody.
“We were contacted by our counterparts in Epe to take the custody of a woman and her children whom a certain cult group are trying to forcefully relocate back to Epe for initiation against their wish. And you know that in Ikorodu, the practice of forcing anybody who claimed to be a practicing Muslim or ready to embrace our religion has been forbidden in Ikorodu since the intervention of Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, after what almost degenerated into a religious war over same issue. Your paper also played a pivotal role in using your medium to report most of our protests.
It was alleged that the local cult group had been contacted, by another sect in Epe division of Lagos State for the retrieval of Shadiat who allegedly escaped from an attempt to force her into a traditional sect.
It was gathered that the woman, a 31 years old mother of three and the third wife of a 59years old traditionalist, ran away from her home in Epe division of Lagos State, to avoid being initiated into a cult which is hell bent in forcing her to fill the position vacated by her late father in the cult.
The woman who spoke with our reporter in a local dialect in the company of her three children, stated that her ordeal started in 2004 when she was forced to marry one Mukaila Lamina, a chieftain of a cult group which headed by her late father.
“After forcefully marrying me to his friend who is a member of the traditional cult group which he headed, my father told me to do circumcision which is a must for every female member of the group, but my mother before her demise kicked against it and told me never to succumb to it because many don’t survive the ordeal.
“Circumcision is a ritual that must be performed by every female member of the group and also female children of the members of the traditional cult. This is a practice that is not acceptable to my mother because of many risks that were involved” She reinstated.
“That was what we were battling and which eventually pitched me and my mother against my father and my husband. But when my mother died suddenly, the pressure to join the cult became unbearable that I had to run away on more than two occasions but was brought back home after some days and intervention of some people.
According to Shadiat, who had her first child, a boy, in 2005 and two girls subsequently for Chief Lamina, her situation became unbearable when her husband who is still insisting that she must be circumcised also started saying her two daughters must do same
“I got tired of life because we are yet to resolve my case with him (her husband) and the cult group he and my father belong to, when he started saying that my children too are due for the ritual. If my mother stood by me against anybody performing the ritual on me and I’m still insisting that I won’t allow myself to be force to do anything against my wish, I am equally ready to stand against anybody who want to subject my daughters to the same ritual which had led many people to their early grave.
“In fact, he is threatening and telling whoever that cares to listen that he has final say over his children and that I cannot question him,” Shadia stated.
It was also gathered that following the death of Shadiat’s father in 2011, Chief Mukaila Lamina became more daring and wanted to forcefully make the mother of three and daughters to undergo the circumcision ritual which would eventually make Shadiat to take the place of her father in the cult.
This, according to report gathered by Oriwu Sun, led to the reason she ran away from home again and took refuge at the NASFAT Centre in Epe, so as to protect herself and her children (two daughters). It was gathered that circumcision is a must for every female member of the group
“Now that my father, who is their leader is dead, no one can tell what he (her husband) will do. As the first child, it is customary that I occupy his (her father) place, not just as a member, but also inherent his leadership position which is hereditary in nature. I’m not ready for any circumcision neither will I allow anybody to do same for my daughters nor do I want to be a member of their group because my mother had warned me against it” she lamented.
It was from the NASFAT branch in Epe that contact was made with the Ikorodu NASFAT branch to seek safe custody for Shadia and her children. But if the feelers we are getting from the NASFAT branch in Ikorodu is anything to go by, then, the town may revert to the pre-Oba Oyefusi settlement era which led to the understanding between the Ikorodu Muslim Council and the traditional institution.
Oriwu Sun gathered that the Epe cult group had made contact with their Ikorodu counterparts for the retrieval of Shadia and her children from the Islamic Centre.
It was equally gathered that the hunt for the mother and her three children, is predicated on the need for her as the first child of late head of the cult, Chief Ajagun Adio a.k.a ‘Talimu’ to occupy the vacant position of her father.
Where is this going to end? Is it going to be another round of face-off between the Muslim community and the traditional institution in Ikorodu? What would be the reaction of the traditional ruler this time around? These and many other questions are what Ikorodu residents were asking themselves.