Vacation Order: Kwara Traditionalist Dares Islamic Clerics, Insists on Freedom of Worship

Fresh trouble is looming in Ilorin, Kwara State, following a confrontation between a traditional religion adherent and a group of Islamic clerics.

The Aare Olomitutu Odo Gbogbo l’Agbo of Kwara State and Atayese Worldwide, Yeye Osunfunmilayo Ajile, has vowed not to abandon her faith despite pressure from clerics who allegedly stormed her residence at Oke Odo on Monday, September 22, demanding that she relocate.

A video of the incident, now circulating online, shows the clerics insisting that she vacate the area, while Ajile stood her ground, declaring her constitutional right to freedom of worship.

“They said they didn’t want me to practice traditional religion in that area and ordered me to relocate to Osun State. I told them I am from Ilorin, a bona fide daughter of the soil. Nobody can chase me away,” she told Saturday PUNCH.

Ajile alleged that the group, led by one Alhaji Yisa and another identified as Bureimo Eesu, attempted to assault her but left after throwing stones and insults. She noted that they recorded the encounter on their phones and later circulated the footage online.

The priestess, who has lived in her home for over 11 years, explained that her worship practices date back to childhood, having inherited them from her grandmother.

“This religion is our ancestral foundation. It was used to establish Ilorin and other Yoruba towns before foreign religions were introduced,” she said, adding that her worship had brought safety to the community.

According to her, before she began worshipping, people frequently drowned while crossing the nearby river, but no such incident has occurred in the past nine years.

Ajile disclosed that she reported the matter at Division A Police Station in Ilorin and was referred to the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, which promised to serve the clerics a formal letter.

She expressed gratitude to Nigerians and fellow traditionalists for their support, stressing that she has always held her annual festivals peacefully in the community.

“I have contributed to the development of this community. These clerics who came to harass me are not even from here. They crossed the river just to make trouble,” she alleged.

Reiterating her position, Ajile maintained:

“I stood my ground because I have the constitutional right to practice any religion of my choice, as long as I don’t disturb others.”