Traditional religion worshippers under the aegis of International Forum of Araba/Oluawo (Ajo Awon Araba/Oluawo L’Agbaye) in Oyo state have condemned continued harrassment and intimidation of its members by men of the Oyo state Police command.
The Forum in a press statement signed by Araba of Ibadanland and Olú Ìṣẹ̀ṣe of Oyo State, Chief Ifálérè Odegbemi Odegbola II, accused men of the Oyo state police command of harassing and intimidating members of Ifa religion worshippers in the State.
“Since the recent arrest of some persons who we gathered were ritualists and who had nothing to do with Ifa religion or its practitioners, men of the Oyo state police command have been harrasing and intimidating our members whenever they go to Oje market and other markets in the city to buy herbal materials. In as much as we are not in support and condemn ritual killings, selling of human parts and other vices in totality, we believe that it is very wrong for policemen in Oyo state to categorise any individual buying herbal materials as potential seller of human parts.”
Araba Odegbola added that Ifa religion strongly condemn such act and that many of those who have been arrested with human parts are in most cases not real Ifa religion practitioners but fake ones who do not know anything about Ifa religion.
“As real Ifa religion practitioners, we have been trying to sanitise and correct the misconception that anyone dealing with herbs is Ifa priest (Babalawo). This is not true. There are herbalists, pastors and alfas who also engage in herbal practice. And unfortunately, people categorise and call all of them Ifa priests (Babalawos).”
Speaking further, Araba of Ibadanland added that the Forum even before now has been exposing the activities of fake Ifa practitioners.
“Just last year, our members at Lagelu Local Government arrested and handed over to police a fake Ifa priest who specialised in duping general members of the public. As real practitioners of Ifa religion, we are on a daily basis introducing measures to sanitise and expose fake Ifa religion practitioners.
Araba of Ibadanland however called on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police to call his men to order over incessant harrassment and intimidation of Ifa religion practitioners in the state.