Yeye Osunfunmilayo Ajile Ilorin clash sparks fresh tension as the priestess vows not to abandon her traditional roots despite clerics’ opposition

Ajile, who holds the title Aare Olomitutu Odo Gbogbo l’Agbo of Kwara State and Atayese Worldwide, declared that “traditional religion is the first religion in Ilorin” following a heated confrontation at her residence.

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The incident occurred on Monday, 22 September, when clerics from Oke Odo, Danialu, and Gaa Akanbi allegedly stormed her home, demanding that she vacate the community.

Footage circulating online shows the group insisting that she relocate, while Ajile firmly resisted, citing her constitutional right to freedom of worship.

“They told me to relocate to Osun State because of my faith. But I was born here in Ilorin, raised here, and built my house here. Nobody can chase me away,” she said. Ajile further alleged that the clerics threw stones and insults before dispersing.

The priestess, who has lived in the area for more than a decade, insisted her worship had brought safety to the community, claiming drowning incidents in the local river stopped after she established her shrine.

She has since reported the matter to the police and sought support from human rights groups.

Ajile’s defiance echoes a wider struggle in Ilorin, where tensions over traditional worship are not new. In July 2023, plans for the annual Isese Festival led by Yeye Ajisekemi Olatunji were thwarted after opposition from Islamic groups and caution from the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

The clampdown drew condemnation from Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, who described it as an attack on religious freedom.

While some traditional leaders argue that suppressing Isese amounts to disenfranchising Yoruba cultural identity, defenders of the Emir insist such measures preserve harmony in the emirate.

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For Ajile, however, the message remains resolute. “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,” she said.