Ondo

By Sabiu Abdullahi

At least 24 residents of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have died after consuming a herbal liquid substance, according to the state government.

The deaths occurred in Araromi Obu and Odigbo town, where eight people reportedly died in Araromi Obu and 16 others in Odigbo town.

The incident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday, has left the affected communities in mourning, while several other people who consumed the substance are receiving treatment in hospitals.

A resident familiar with the incident said some of those who consumed the substance later became unconscious before they died.

The source said, “They (the deceased) drank the herbal substance and started dying. Eight people died in Araromi Obu while 16 others lost their lives in Odigbo town, but we have yet to confirm if it was what they drank that killed them. But we are sure that the people died after drinking the herbal drinks.

“Some of the people died in their sleep while some died when they got home, and many are still in the hospital as I am talking to you.”

The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the deaths but said the actual cause had not been established.

According to him, health officials were expected to conduct further tests, including an autopsy, to determine what caused the deaths.

Adegoroye said, “We can confirm the death of 24 people, eight in Araromi Obu and 16 in Odigbo town, and many are still on admission at hospitals. But we have yet to ascertain the cause of the deaths, and we are still waiting for the team from the state Ministry of Health to carry out the test on the deceased. That is why we can’t specifically say the real cause.”

As a precaution, the council chairman announced a ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the area.

He added that a preliminary verbal autopsy carried out by the local government health team suggested a possible connection between the deaths and the consumption of the substances. However, authorities said further medical investigation was required to establish the cause conclusively.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, also confirmed the deaths and said investigations were ongoing.

Ajaka did not identify the substance suspected to be responsible for the deaths but said health officials would carry out further assessments in the affected communities.

“The government is taking the matter seriously, and we will provide more details after the ongoing investigation has established the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Meanwhile, some youths in Odigbo reportedly marched to the palace of the town’s traditional ruler to demand explanations and urgent action over the deaths.

The monarch, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, appealed to the youths to remain calm. He assured them that efforts would be made to establish what caused the deaths and address the situation.

Authorities are yet to establish the exact cause of the deaths as medical investigations continue.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A former Christian pastor in Ondo State, Olabanjo Felix Gold, has announced his departure from Christianity and declared his commitment to Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, the indigenous Yoruba spiritual tradition.

Olabanjo, who founded Image of God Evangelical and Prophetic Ministries, made the announcement in a video circulated online.

In the video, he introduced himself under a new spiritual identity and spoke about his transition from Christianity to the practice of Ifá.

According to him, he was previously known as Pastor Olabanjo Felix Gold, the founder of Image of God Evangelical Ministries. He said he now identifies as Ifawamiri Aworan Olodumare, Babalawo of Ifá.

The former pastor expressed appreciation to traditional spiritual elders whom he credited with playing important roles in his spiritual transition.

He singled out his Oluwo, Baba Aifuwapẹ, Oluṣẹgun Latunji, whom he described as the Araba of Isararemọ, for special recognition.

Olabanjo also acknowledged other individuals who he said offered him support and guidance during his spiritual journey.

He stressed the significance of mentorship and the role of elders within indigenous spiritual practice.

The former cleric further made a strong declaration about his new religious conviction. He rejected Christianity and other foreign religions and affirmed his allegiance to Ìṣẹ̀ṣe.

He described the foreign religions as false and maintained that Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is the authentic spiritual path.

The announcement has generated reactions on social media, with the development attracting particular attention because of Olabanjo’s previous position as a Christian pastor and his leadership of an evangelical ministry.

His decision has also sparked discussions online about religious conversion and the growing interest in traditional African spiritual practices.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Suspected kidnappers have abducted the traditional ruler of Ode Oriya community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Adeniyi Adelana.

The monarch, who is said to be 60 years old, was reportedly taken from his residence on Saturday night after armed men stormed the community.

Sources said the attackers, believed to be about six in number, arrived at about 8:30 p.m. and opened fire during the operation. The gunmen allegedly shot the monarch’s wife before taking Adelana into a nearby forest.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed that the injured woman is receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital.

Jimoh said security personnel were immediately deployed to the area after the attack. He added that tactical teams have commenced an intensive search of the forest and surrounding communities in an effort to rescue the abducted traditional ruler.

He said, “A comprehensive search-and-rescue operation was immediately activated, with security operatives combing nearby forests, bush paths and suspected escape routes in a determined effort to track the movement of the kidnappers, secure the victim’s safe release and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The Command remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring that the victim is reunited safely with his family while all those involved face the full weight of the law.

“The Ondo State Police Command urges members of the public to remain calm and continue their lawful activities without fear. Residents are encouraged to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that may aid ongoing operations.”

The police said efforts are ongoing to locate the kidnappers and ensure the safe return of the traditional ruler. Authorities also appealed to residents to support security agencies with useful information that could assist the rescue operation.

By Uzair Adam

A 30-year-old motorcyclist, Michael Olorunfemi, has been arrested in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for allegedly assaulting his wife’s 17-year-old sister.

The incident reportedly occurred in August 2024, around 10 p.m. in the Onigaari area of Irese Road.According to sources, Olorunfemi admitted to committing the crime.

He claimed the victim had asked him for a ride to her boyfriend’s house, but he stopped in a secluded area and assaulted her.

He also confessed that he had promised her money, which he failed to provide, leading her to report the matter to her mother.Ondo State police spokesperson Funmi Odunlami confirmed that the suspect has been remanded in Olokuta prison.

The court, led by Chief Magistrate Kolawole Aro, ordered the remand pending advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The case is scheduled for review on October 31, 2024.

The charges against Olorunfemi violate Sections 357 and 358 of the Ondo State Criminal Code Law of 2006, which deals with unlawful carnal knowledge.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A 12-year-old boy, Ibukun Solomon, in Ondo State, has recounted a harrowing story of how his mother killed his father while he was sleeping.

Salomon said his mother, Tayelolu, killed his father, Felix, who was a farmer, with a pestle after a minor argument.

It was learned that Tayelolu hit her 65-year-old husband on his head three times while he was sleeping in their house, located at the Government Reservation Area, GRA, in the state.

It was also gathered that the couple, in recent times, have been having a crisis, and the wife always threatens to kill the husband and elope.

The son narrated, “My mother killed my father with a pestle in my presence and took to her heels. She used the pestle to hit his head when he was asleep.

“Earlier on the fateful day, a minor argument had ensued between them that resulted in a fight. After the fight, my father went to lie on the chair, and my mother hit his head with the pestle.

“He became unconscious and fell down from where he was sleeping. My mother used the pestle to hit my father’s head three times. He later died.

“When my mother saw that my father was already unconscious, she hid the pestle at the back of our house and ran away.”

I alerted some of the residents, who rushed my father to the hospital. But he later died. His corpse has been deposited at the morgue.

“My mother had three children for my father, and I’m the last child,” he stated.

Also speaking, a brother of the deceased said that the family members have mediated several times to settle the incessant fight between his brother the his wife.

According to him, “The woman had been threatening to kill her husband whenever they were fighting. And the deceased informed us about the threats. But we never knew she would carry out the devilish act.

“But this time, she took laws into her hands and killed our brother for nothing. She must be arrested and prosecuted accordingly,” he stated.

But police in the state said that all efforts to arrest the fleeing suspect were in top gear, and she would be charged in court as soon as possible.