The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Sunday, directed the suspension of the ongoing Egungun festival over reported cases of violence, arson and looting of shops.

A statement by the Olubadan’s personal assistant on media, Oladele Ogunsola, said the atrocities were perpetrated by hoodlums hiding under the Egungun festival in Ibadan.

Olubadan summoned all the leaders of masquerades known as ‘Alaagbaa’ in Ibadan land to an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon at the ancient Aliiwo palace, Agodi, in Ibadan.

The traditional ruler expressed sadness over the reported cases of violence accompanying the annual festival, “the video of which has gone viral”.

He described the development as unfortunate and an affront to his palace because he had warned against turning the festival into an avenue to wreak havoc.

Mr Balogun had on Wednesday condemned the violence reported during the festival in the Alafara area.

“I warned seriously against what is happening when the festival was to commence, and the assurances I got then were that nothing untoward would accompany the festival.

“But, the reports coming to me have been at variance with those assurances I earlier got from the masquerades’ leaders.

“This is why the suspension clause has to be invoked, and how long it lasts would be determined by the outcome of the meeting of Monday afternoon,” Olubadan said.

Mr Balogun insisted that the ugly past when the masquerade festival was usually a period of terror when perceived enemies became targets of attack and violence had been buried, and any attempt to exhume it would be met with stiff sanctions.

He called on the security agencies to ensure no culprit was spared.

“Whoever flouts the suspension order under whatever guise must be handled like a criminal,” Olubadan stated.

(NAN)