ABEOKUTA — Clad in white ceremonial attire and carrying ritual offerings, a group of women traditional worshippers from across Egbaland took to the streets of Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday to hold a spiritual procession. The group sought divine intervention for the safe release of victims recently kidnapped in Oyo State.

A Sacred Appeal 

The procession, which wound through major thoroughfares and reached several cultural landmarks, was described by participants as a sacred act of appeasement to ancestral spirits and deities. The worshippers visited historic sites, including Olumo Rock, the Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala site, the shrine of Egba warrior Sodeke, and concluded at the Itoku shrine at Orita Aje Junction.

At each stop, the women performed traditional rites and offered prayers, invoking the protection of their forefathers for Yorubaland and the country as a whole.

Voices for the Captives 

The spiritual exercise was spearheaded by Dr. Omolara Fashola-MacGregor, the Yeye Olokun Agbaye and Olori of Orile-Ilawo Kingdom. Speaking to journalists, she emphasized that the action was fueled by the collective distress of mothers over the plight of schoolchildren, teachers, and other citizens currently held in captivity.

"We are here to appeal to the deities of our forefathers and the spirits of our heroes to intervene in this troubling situation," Dr. Fashola-MacGregor stated. "Our prayers are focused on the safe return of those who have been abducted. We believe that when people unite in faith, sincerity, and purpose, divine intervention is possible."

The procession highlights the growing public frustration and desperation regarding the country's security challenges, as various groups increasingly turn to traditional and cultural avenues to supplement official efforts in the search for missing persons.