Peace has returned to the Ota, a border town in Ogun State, after a two-day unrest, following a clash between some military personnel and worshipers of Egungun in the ancient city.
The Guardian gathered that the Olota of Ota, Oba Prof Abubakar Adeyemi Obalanlege, who cut short his yearly vacation in United Kingdom in the company of Onitele of Itele, Oba Ademola Eletu Asorota and Seriki of Ota, High Chief Olanrewaju Bashorun, brokered peace between the military personnel and Egungun masquerade worshippers who had been at loggerheads for days.
Olota returned immediately to attend the face-off to avoid a total breakdown of law and order.
Speaking on behalf of Olota, Chief Bashorun confirmed that the Olota and other Monarchs and Chiefs met with the Commanding Officer, Navy School of Music as well as Egungun leadership finally to bring total peace.
It was gathered that the incident, which occurred on Friday, December 27, sparked tension in parts of the town for three days.
A viral video, which captured the aftermath of the fracas, showed military personnel lamenting an attack on a military base in Ota.
Sounds of gunshots were heard in the background, while broken glass and stones littered the naval base premises.
The soldier in the video said, “See our base o, see how they destroy soldiers’ barracks for this Otta o.”
A top military source, speaking anonymously, confirmed the incident.
The source explained that the clash began when some yet-to-be-identified military personnel allegedly confronted a masquerade during a festival in the community.
“On December 27, some personnel reportedly attacked the Egungun worshippers during their festival. In retaliation, the masquerade worshippers attacked the Nigerian Navy School of Music in Ota with bottles, stones, and other dangerous weapons,” the source said.
The source added that naval personnel fired warning shots to disperse the mob attempting to storm the military base.
Another senior military official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that some community leaders had reached out to the naval authorities to resolve the matter amicably.
The official said, “The people thought some soldiers they had issues with were from our school and mobilised themselves to attack us.
‘We exercised restraint, but the shots fired were to prevent the mob from forcing their way into the premises.”
The source added that the military personnel who appeared in the viral video had been detained for breaching the rules of engagement.
In an emergency meeting on Sunday in the Palace of Olota, the Monarch sued for total understanding between the Officers and Residents in the Community as it has always been.
Responding to a question on the alleged attack on Egungun, the High Chief disclosed that the skirmishes were between followers of Egungun and young men who were not in any uniform during the fracas, but the attackers allegedly ran into the Navy School of Music in Ota, an action that led to the youth’s reaction.
The adherents have, however, been advised to keep peace and respect the sanctity of Egungun as the main Cultural Festival of Ota and Awori in General.
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