Monarch’s death: Lagos residents dash home early as Itire chiefs “declare illegal curfew”
As you read this, residents of Itire, Lawanson and Ijesha in Surulere area of Lagos State are fleeing the streets for fear of being caught in an “illegal” curfew reportedly imposed by local chiefs.
The curfew began Saturday night after the death of Itire monarch Lateef Atanda Dauda.
In Yoruba culture, such occurrence is followed by oro rites during which “ordinary” people are expected to stay indoors and anyone who flouts the curfew could be killed.
“I had to close from work early because of the curfew,” a resident told NewsroomNG on Monday.
“We heard the oro will start very early today and anyone caught during the rite will be killed.
“I don’t understand why this is happening in the 21st Century,” she said.
The Lagos State government described the curfew as “illegal”.
“No individual or group has the right to infringe on the rights of citizens to freedom of movement and association as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” state secretary Tunji Bello said in a statement.
“While the state government commiserates with the royal family, Onitire Chieftaincy Family Council and the entire people of Itire over the demise of the monarch and highly revered our tradition and customs, it would not condone any act that tends to infringe on the right of its citizens which it has sworn to protect.
“The Lagos State Government is saddened by the demise of our ever-supportive Oba, but wish to assure that government will not fold its arms and allow a few individual or group of people to deny citizens of their right to movement or commune anywhere around the state.”
Some areas of Ilasa and Mushin are also affected, we gathered.
