Oro Festival: Lagos Police Vow To Deal With Anyone Who Stops Women From Moving In Ikorodu

.. As Oba recants on his letter directing restriction of women’s movement

The Lagos State Police Command has vowed to deal with anyone caught restricting the movement of women in Ikorodu area of the state during the celebration of the annual Oro Festival.

Ayangburen Of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi

The festival, which is to be celebrated on Tuesday, forbids women from moving while it is being observed.

The Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, had in a letter dated April 24, 2018 reiterated the age-long tradition of no movement for women during the festival.

But at a meeting on Monday with Oba Shotobi; palace chiefs; and the Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Muslim Folami, the Commissioner, Lagos State Police Command, Edgal Imohimi, warned the traditionalists not to tamper with the right of movement of women in the town.

Imohimi said the Command would not tolerate any discriminatory tradition against the female gender.

He warned that the Command would deal ruthlessly with anybody who hides under the guise of custom or tradition to torment trouble in the state.

He therefore enjoined women to go about their lawful business without let or hindrance.

Shotobi said it is unthinkable for a man with his level of exposure to do or say anything that would be seen as discriminatory against the female gender.

He, however, acknowledged that the festival is an age long tradition of Ikorodu people, which had been even before he was born.

He added that the festival would hold without denying the female folks their right of freedom of movement.

The meeting ended with a joint press statement assuring the people of Ikorodu that the festival would be peaceful