Tension and fear have gripped the quiet Adelola village at Aroro Makinde, after Ojoo in Ibadan, in Oyo State, after unknown gunmen stormed the residence of Abolade Abiola Ibrahim, the rightful heir to the throne, allegedly over his refusal to perform an ancient ritual involving the sacrifice of seven virgin girls.
Ibrahim, who was next in line to be crowned traditional ruler of the remote village in southwestern Nigeria, reportedly rejected the traditional rite required for his ascension, citing moral and spiritual objections.
The controversial ritual, said to involve the use of seven virgin female children, has long been a secretive but central part of the kingship process in Adelola.
His decision to reject the rite did not go unnoticed.
According to local sources, traditional leaders viewed his refusal as an abomination that could anger the gods and disrupt the ancestral order.
The tension came to a head when armed men believed to be working under the instruction of powerful traditional loyalists stormed Ibrahim’s home in the middle of the night.
Both Ibrahim and his wife, Sherifat Iyabode Ipadeola, were abducted during the raid and reportedly threatened with death.
“They told us we would die before letting the gods go without what they are owed,” Ibrahim later said through a friend.
The couple, however, managed to escape captivity and fled the country under the cover of darkness, eventually seeking refuge in the United States, where they now live in hiding.
Despite their escape, the pressure has not abated.
Friends close to the family say Ibrahim recently received messages from villagers demanding that he return to “complete the ritual” and fulfil his role—or face grave spiritual consequences.
“They warned that the gods are angry and that things will get worse if he doesn’t return to make things right,” said a close confidant who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Human rights groups have condemned the attack and the ritual itself, calling for a thorough investigation and greater protection for individuals resisting harmful traditional practices.
“No one should be persecuted or attacked for standing up against inhumane and outdated customs,” said Dr Chinyere Agbaje of the African Centre for Cultural Reform.
Back in Adelola, the throne remains vacant as the village council faces increasing scrutiny. Meanwhile, Ibrahim’s stand has ignited broader debate across the country about the clash between tradition and modern human rights values.
When contacted, the police reported that arrests had been made in connection with the attack, while the main suspects were said to be at large.