Women traditional worshippers from Egbaland on Friday held a procession across parts of Abeokuta, Ogun State, calling for the safe release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted from Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The group, dressed in white and carrying ritual items, moved through selected cultural sites in the city where prayers and traditional rites were performed. Locations visited included Olumo Rock, the Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala site, the Sodeke shrine, and the Itoku shrine area at Orita Aje Junction.
The exercise was led by Dr. Omolara Fashola-MacGregor, the Yeye Olokun Agbaye and Olori of Orile-Ilawo Kingdom. She said the procession was aimed at seeking spiritual intervention for the release of the abducted victims and addressing wider insecurity affecting communities.
At each stop, participants offered prayers and performed rites in line with traditional practices, focusing on the return of those in captivity and stability in affected areas.
Fashola-MacGregor said the situation required coordinated attention from government, security agencies, religious groups, and traditional institutions. She added that cultural leadership still plays a role in community response to crises.
The group also offered prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and other monarchs across Yorubaland, including the Olu of Orile-Ilawo Kingdom, Oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor.
Residents and traders along the route observed as the procession passed through, with participants chanting and carrying out rituals at designated points.
The event ended at the Itoku shrine, where participants prayed for the safe return of the abducted victims and for an end to kidnapping and violent crime in the country.
