Following seven unpleasant days, residents of the ancient town of Ota, Sango and neighbouring communities in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State are heaving a sigh of relief. Five weeks ago, the area was engulfed in tension, as Oro cultists imposed a curfew, to mark the passing away of their monarch, the Olota of Ota, Oba Moshood Adetoro Alani Oyede, who died May 25, 2016.

Restriction on movement and traditional rites and sacrifices had commenced in broad daylight, a time when students, workers, traders and other residents went about their everyday routine. And for the days it lasted, all who lived or passed through Ota mouthed worrying tales. Besides the restriction, commercial activities were also grounded, as business people in the area recorded losses. Social life, of course, was zero. Shops were locked; a handful of people were seen in front of their houses. Fewer still were on the streets. Public institutions, like courts, schools, local government secretariat and religious premises, offered skeletal services.

From 4pm till dawn, no being was allowed to leave or go into the area. Industrial workers in the town had no choice but sleep in their work places. For those who work outside the town, especially Lagos State, many were forced to squat with friends and relatives all through the period.

A disturbing dimension to the curfew, however, was report that some people went missing. According to a resident, Kunmi Oladimeji (not real name), corpses were discovered in parts of the community. He pointed out the case of one man, who since having parked his car has remained unaccounted for.

It is reported that hoodlums from Oshodi and other parts of Lagos hijacked the curfew and wreaked havoc on the community. They were said to have attacked and kidnapped workers and traders rushing home to beat the deadline. They allegedly broke into shops, robbed people and terrorised hapless strangers.

Oladimeji, who works in the Isolo area of Lagos, told The Guardian he abandoned his house till the curfew ended. He regretted that Ota, a cosmopolitan city and an industrial hub, where people of different tribes and nationalities live and work, should never have experienced such practice.

He said any culture that is anti-life and which cannot guarantee the safety of people, especially strangers, must be abolished, adding that given the level of civilisation in today’s world, the community needs to outlive primitivism.

“If the community must impose any curfew, there should be safety mechanisms on ground to protect the lives of people. A culture that doesn’t protect lives but delights in taking it should be abhorred. I am contemplating selling my house and relocating to a safer area. This is not the first or second time this kind of thing would happen. In order to avert danger, I will need to run for my dear life,” said Oladimeji.

Another resident, Kazeem Bello, also said many people went missing and that corpses were discovered in strategic parts of the ancient town. He said because of his desire to beat the seven-day restriction, he left work early. This, however, was not without repercussion, as he was sanctioned for ‘running away from office’.

“For how long are we going to cope with this kind of archaic culture? I am very sure the state government and the police are aware of this. In any sane society, government does its best to introduce new methods through which tradition can be practiced without negative effects on people,” he said.

One journalist, Olatayo, said given the demands of his job, he had to relocate to Lagos while the curfew lasted. He also said he saw a corpse at a junction near the late monarch’s palace. According to him, the deceased had a deep machete cut to the head. He said many of the missing were commercial motorcyclists who had been lured to secluded spots or caught violating the curfew.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said he could not comment because he was not aware of the development.“Police is not involved in curfews; it is only government curfew we always are aware of. They did not tell us they were imposing any curfew. I am not aware of it.”

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jide Ojuko, who told The Guardian that traditionalists do not need to take permission from government to carry out sacrifices, said what they did was in line with custom, which had to be observed following the demise of the monarch. “The same thing happened in Ife when the Ooni died. That is the tradition; it must be followed,” he said.

Ojuko, however, denied reports that people had gone missing and that corpses were seen in the town. “I am from the community and I was there during the curfew. Nothing of such happened. The report is not true,” he said.