Leaders and residents of Idiroko, a border town in Ogun State, have expressed concern over what they described as a brewing religious conflict in the area.

The crisis which is rooted in longstanding opposition to the community’s annual Oro festival, dominated media space in past months.

Daily Trust reports that Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers in the Ipokia Local Government Area have been locked in a protracted dispute over the daytime curfew imposed during the Oro festival.

This crisis has previously led to clashes and was eventually taken to court.

In 2017, the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ipokia ruled that any daytime curfew imposed in connection with traditional festivals was unconstitutional and a violation of citizens’ rights.

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

However, in July 2025, the League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State accused Oro worshippers of violating the court order by allegedly imposing a daytime curfew during the burial rites of the late Oniko of Ikolaje, Oba John Adekunle.

In a petition dated July 24 and addressed to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Muslim leaders described the action as an infringement on fundamental human rights and called for urgent intervention by security agencies to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

On Thursday, religious, ethnic, and community leaders, including representatives of the Hausa and Igbo communities, women, and youth groups, jointly addressed a press conference at the town’s palace, calling for an end to the crisis.

Community spokesman, Taiwo Obanla, stated that the situation had tarnished the image of Idiroko, blaming it on those he described as religious extremists.

He claimed that the Oro worshippers had since adjusted their practices to comply with the court ruling by conducting rituals only at night.

Despite this, Obanla expressed worry that the alleged extremists are pushing to eradicate the traditional Oro practice in the community.

“These people are not indigenes of this town. How can outsiders come here and try to erase our centuries-old traditions and culture?” Obanla said.

He called on the government and security agencies to investigate those stirring unrest, accusing them of spreading misinformation and having “questionable intentions.”

“They are painting Ikolaje Idiroko in a bad light. We are appealing to the government to act before this escalates into violence. Many of them do not even have legitimate means of livelihood,” he said.

The Balogun of Ikolaje, High Chief Daniel Olusola Edun, described Idiroko as a peaceful land, warning that any attempt to disrupt its peace would not be tolerated.

Venerable Samuel Olugbade of Saint Paul African Church added, “In all my years here, I have never seen Oro worshippers kill or harm anyone. I was born and raised here, and I’ve witnessed peaceful co-existence.”

Chief Imam of Ikolaje Idiroko, Tajudeen Okeojo, also called for harmony among all religious groups.

He revealed that his parents were formerly traditional worshippers before converting to Islam through his influence.

He noted that past community leaders — including his predecessors — worked closely with the Oro worshippers to ensure peace, often agreeing to exempt Fridays and Sundays from curfews so Muslims and Christians could worship freely.

“Oro festival, as we were taught, is a ritual for the atonement of peace in the community. My predecessors always held meetings with traditionalists to ensure no disruption of Friday or Sunday worship. That’s how we maintained peaceful co-existence,” he said.

Okeojo added that he was widely accepted as Chief Imam by all religious and traditional leaders in the community.

However, he said recent dissenters rejected his authority. “If you don’t recognize me as the Chief Imam, then I don’t recognize you either,” he said. (Daily Trust)