Religious crisis looms in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun following the decision of the traditionalists to carry out the Oro festival despite the state government order suspending such.

CEOAFRICA learnt on Friday that the decision to stage the three-day festival including day light could lead to break down of law and order in area,, going by the imbroglio over day time Oro Festival slated  for Saturday-Sunday morning during which there will be restriction of movement especially for women. It was gathered that the Muslims community had objected to this, as it could hinder the Ramadan programmes and because day time Oro had been proscribed in state by the government.

A meeting which was called by the chairman, Ikenne Local Government Honourable Tajudeen Salako, held last Monday 22nd July 2013 and attended by the leadership of Muslim community and Oro traditionalists to resolved the issue end in deadlock. It could be recalled the Ogun State had banned day time Oro festival in any part of the state, but the traditionalists have insisted to go ahead with the festival despite the directive by the Ogun State government.

It was gathered that the atmosphere in the town had charged following the insistence of the Oro cultists who have reportedly announced the commencement of the festival in this community for three consecutive days. There is palpable fear in the town as we begin to see posters pasted by one Islamic organization named Hizbullah Movement of Nigeria announcing a Ramadan lecture to hold on Saturday inviting Muslim women and men.

The organization had called on the Muslims to troop out and defend their right and freedom.  It vowed to resist by all means any day time Oro in the month of Ramadan since the government had banned such practice.

It would be recalled that similar case occurred in Ogere, another community in Ikenne Local Government, in which despite the government position, the Oro cultists still imposed curfew in the town. It appears that the Muslims in Ikenne were ready to resist the repeat of imposition of curfew by these sects in their community and this might resulted into clashes between Oro adherents and Muslims in the area.