According to reports, three people were killed following a violent battle between competing cult groups during the Osun Osogbo festival.
Fighting broke out during the grand finale of the renowned worldwide traditional festival, resulting in 12 additional people suffering injuries of varied severity.
Although the cause of the altercation and the identities of the deceased victims are yet unknown, xandertech learned that hoodlums were spotted openly wielding various hazardous weapons.
The numerous hoodlums who arrived also ruined the festivities, terrifying locals and visitors in the Jaleyemi and Isale-Osun regions of Osogbo.
The Chairman of the Hunters Group of Nigeria, Ahmed Nureni, confirmed the occurrence and said three dead had been seen around the grove in addition to 10 other members of the group being hurt.
Nureni also disclosed that the staff members of the nearby Hunters and Forest Security Service office were hurt in the attack and vandalism.
“Though we don’t know who they are, we saw three dead bodies. In the meantime, our office in the Jaleyemi neighborhood was also vandalized, and ten employees were hurt as a result.
Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba country, disapproved of the development as well.
Adams, who announced this while speaking to the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, also termed the cult clash as an invasion of the Osun grove intended to degrade the reputation of the Osun Osogbo celebration on a global scale.
In order to preserve the sacredness of the spiritual celebration, he emphasized the necessity for stakeholders to provide proper security for tourists and other guests.
“It is sad that cultists and miscreants have been using the festival’s hospitality as a stage for intra-cult conflict, which the Osun goddess detests, and we must all work together to reverse the trend.
“Osun and Nigeria have a chance to draw in tourism development. We must preserve and promote Osun-Osogbo’s reputation around the world.
Adams emphasized that nothing should stand in the way of the festival’s and Yoruba tradition’s growth.
However, according to eyewitnesses, the fighting began when a hunter group member from Nigeria allegedly attacked an OPC leader with a charmed ring.