The deaths in a
remote community of Irele in Irele local government area of Ondo
State were attributed to the action of six boys who broke into the shrine
of Molokun, the deity of the people and desecrated it by stealing
artifacts and sacred objects.
Sunday Vanguard learnt
that the potency of the god of the community was tested when the
thieves unveiled the “ Agogo Ide”, one of the sacred objects in the
shrine covered with white apron.
A source said even
the worshipers and traditionalists in charge of the shrine do not look at the
sacred object with naked eyes.
“The Agogo Ide is never
seen by anybody. But those who broke into the shrine unveiled the sacred object
and this is an abomination hence the deaths in the community,” the source
said.
“Until the god is
appeased, the deaths will continue. But the chief priest and traditionalists
have consulted and asked women to appease the Malokun by pouring buckets of
water in front of the shrine.”
Sunday Vanguard learnt
that the boys underrated the god of the land and, like lightening, it struck,
leaving many persons dead.
The
thieves reportedly moved the sacred objects from the shrine and sold them
to a man who resold it to some foreigners.
Reports had it that those
who shared from the proceeds of the sales and who they gave the money to in
exchange for goods and services died in turns.
Sunday Vanguard gathered
that the Malokun shrine was broken into by the boys after they had
protected themselves through the help of a herbalist
outside the community.
At the last count, about
30 persons, between ages 25 and 40, died horrible deaths because of
their alleged connection to the abomination.
Those who died as a
result of the alleged abomination were said to have been initially
afflicted with blindness, elongation of tongues and
unconsciousness.
The perpetrators, it was
learnt, shared N100,000 each from the proceeds after which they reportedly went
on spending spree in the community.
The news of the
desecration of the shrine was said to have been relayed to the traditional
ruler of the town who invited the chief priest and other traditionalists to
conduct a fact-finding visit to the shrine.
The breakage into the
shrine was said to have been the first of its kind in the history
of the community.
But Ondo State
government linked the deaths to an outbreak of a strange disease.
Already, the state
government and the World Health Organization have sent representatives to the
community.
The Ondo government
deployed the Personnel Protective Equipment purchased during recent Ebola scare
in the country to the area with their handlers.
The state Health
Commissioner, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, who led government delegation to Irele,
said the reason given by the natives that the deaths resulted from
the desecration of a shrine in the town could not be scientifically
proved.
Adeyanju confirmed that
12 persons died on the day the incident happened.
The federal government
Saturday said deaths resulting from an unknown disease in Irele Local
Government Area of Ondo State may have emanated from herbicides chemical used
in the area.
Project Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (
NCDC ), Prof. Abdulrahman Nasidi told THISDAY that the cause of the deaths
might have been as a result of herbicides in the area.
Nasidi said: "Our team is on the ground, what we are
getting is that the deaths is likely to be from herbicides," he said.
The
NCDC boss stated that the medical team on ground in Ondo State will continue to
monitor the situation so as to tackle the health crisis in the place.
Nasidi also debunked claims that the cause of the deaths might not be unconnected with some diety in the locality.
According to him, while government is not against people having such claims, the medical team is more focused on diagnosing the problem through clinical means.
He further assured of government readiness to find a lasting solution to to the health crisis in Irele.
Nasidi also debunked claims that the cause of the deaths might not be unconnected with some diety in the locality.
According to him, while government is not against people having such claims, the medical team is more focused on diagnosing the problem through clinical means.
He further assured of government readiness to find a lasting solution to to the health crisis in Irele.
High-Priest-Lemo
Appeasing the god
with water
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