Worried by the continued forceful detention of the school children and their teachers abducted from Ahoro-Esinele in Orire local government area of Oyo State, scores of women traditional worshippers from across Egbaland on Friday staged spiritual procession round major streets of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital in a bid to secure the release of victims.
Clad in the traditional white worship attire with other paraphernalia of worship, the half-naked women traditionalists visited sacred sites of traditional worship in Abeokuta metropolis where they invoked spirits of the deities for a spiritual intervention in the efforts towards safe release of the victims within the next seven days.
The procession was led by Yeye Olokun Agbaye and Olori of Ilawo Kingdom, Her Royal Majesty, Omolara Fashola-MacGregor, who described the initiative as a sacred appeal and appeasements to the deities and revered ancestral spirits to ward-off evils away from Yorubaland in general.
Among the sites visited were the shrines of the iconic Olumo Rock; that of the Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala; the shrines of Sodeke, the great Egba warrior, before is terminated at the Itoku shrines at Orita Aje Junction in the popular Itoku Market where where prayers were offered, along -side the traditional rites performed in accordance with longstanding cultural practices.
The traditionalists called upon the gods of the land, ancestral heroes and protective deities to intervene in the security challenges currently confronting Nigeria and particularly, the plight of those currently in captivity.
Speaking with journalists during the spiritual procession, the Yeye Olokun Agbaye, HRM. Fashola-MacGregor said the exercise was about seeking divine mercy and protection for innocent children and their teachers, as well as others still in captivity nationwide.
“We are here to appeal to the deities of our forefathers and the spirits of our heroes to intervene in this troubling situation.
“Our prayers are focused on the safe return of those who have been abducted. We believe that when the people unite in faith and sincerity, divine intervention is possible”.
She emphasized that insecurity has become a major concern across many communities and requires collective efforts from government, security agencies, religious groups and traditional institutions.
The Yeye Olokun Agbaye, who took her time to list President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and her husband, the Olu of Ilawo Kingdom in Egbaland, Oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor among other traditional rulers in Yorubaland while offering the appeasements prayers, emphasized that traditional institutions have a roles to play in promoting peace, unity and communal wellbeing.
“Our ancestors protected these lands and stood for justice. We are invoking their blessings and protection at a time when many families are experiencing pain and uncertainty,” she added.
