A local chief in Ondo State has
explained the “mystery” behind a
strange and unknown killer disease
that has ravaged a town in the state,
killing at least 14 people.
The community leader, Moses
Enimade, the Oyewoga of Ode Irele in
Ondo State, said the disease came as
punishment for the “sacrilege”
committed against Molokun, the local
deity in the area.
Mr. Enimade, next in command to the
Oba, Cornelius Olanrewaju-Lebi,
stated this in Irele on Saturday. No
fewer than 14 people have died of
severe headaches and blindness in
the town recently.
There have been no explanation for
the disease. Victims have tested
negative to Ebola, the deadly and
incurable virus that killed thousands
across West Africa, including Nigeria.
Mr. Enimade debunked the rumour
that the deaths were caused by
strange disease or Ebola virus. Mr.
Enimade said some stubborn youth
broke into the inner room of the
Molokun shrine on April 15. “Molokun
is a deity of the land,” he said. “Only
the Chief Priest and High Chief
Gboguron are qualified to enter the
shrine.”
The chief said the youth entered the
shrine and made away with traditional
items in a bid to acquire extra-
ordinary powers and engage in money
ritual. “They were not qualified to
enter the (shrine),” he said. “They
had to face the death penalty.”
The Oyewoga said he could not
remember the last time Molokun or
any other gods had to strike like this
in the area.
According to him, there is no
community or town without its own
culture and tradition. He said what
happened in Irele was the judgement
of the gods on the youth. “Even the
Kabiesi himself is not permitted to
enter the Molokun Shrine’s inner
room except the Chief Priest and High
Chief Gboguron. Sacrifice must be
performed before they can enter.
“Because these youths want to be
rich at all costs, they entered the
sacred place and made away with
traditional items and 20 of them have
died as a result of their desperate
acts,” he said. “We have to appease
the gods or else many will still die
and we have to bury them according
to tradition. Their corpses belong to
the gods and will be exhumed if
buried by their families.”
He restated that the deaths were not
caused by diseases or Ebola as
widely speculated.
“The death caused by Molokun is
characterised by severe headache and
blindness,” he said. “Proverbs 29:1 in
the Bible say: `He that had been
reproved and hardened his neck shall
suddenly be destroyed without
remedy; so youths of nowadays must
be careful.’”
Some residents appealed to the chief
priest to make the necessary
atonement to avert calamity in the
town. They said news of the deaths
had given the town and state a bad
name. Sheed Osuolale said he was
afraid when the news broke.
Esther Bantefa said the news had
given the town and the state a bad
name. She said the chief priest
should as a matter of urgency perform
necessary rituals. “Our people in
Lagos and other towns called us to
get information if it was Ebola
outbreak,” she said.
Tayo Akinyelure said parents should
warn their children against going near
shrines. “Many youths do not believe
in all these traditions and customs,”
Mrs. Akinyelure said. “It is high time
parents warned their children against
committing sacrilege.”
