Three persons are feared dead and 12 others injured following a violent clash between rival cult groups around the Osun-Osogbo ancient groove, during the  grand finale of the Osun Osogbo festival.

As at the time of reporting, the identity of the victims and two of the injured persons were yet to be ascertained, but hoodlums were seen brandishing dangerous weapons, disrupting activities, creating panic among residents and tourist around Jaleyemi and Isale-Osun.

The Office of Hunters and Forest Security Service located along the road was also attacked and vandalized with its personnel injured in the attack.

Chairman of the Hunter group, Ahmed Nureni, said three bodies were sighted around the groove while 10 members of the group were also injured.

“We sighted three dead bodies, though we don’t know their identities. Meanwhile, our office at Jaleyemi area was also vandalized and in the process the ten personnel were injured.” 

However, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has frowned at the invasion of the Osun groove by cultists, which he says “tarnish the international status of the festival”.

Addressing members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, at Isale-Osun outside the groove, at a reception organized for him, Gani Adams stressed the need for stakeholders to ensure adequate security for tourists and visitors to safeguard the sanctity of the spiritual festival.

In his words, “It is unfortunate that cultists and miscreants have been taking advantage of the hospitality of the festival to create a platform for cult rivalry, which Osun goddess abhors and we must collectively stop the trend.

“This is an opportunity for Osun and Nigeria to attract tourism development. Osun-Osogbo is renown globally and we must protect and project it to the whole world.