A Lagos resident, Olamilekan Emmanuel Oyenuga, has raised serious concerns over what he describes as a pattern of violent attacks and threats arising from a longstanding family dispute linked to traditional cultural practices in southwestern Nigeria.
Mr. Oyenuga, 33, told newsmen that he has been repeatedly targeted by members of his extended family following his refusal to participate in Egungun ancestral rites, a traditional masquerade practice historically associated with his family lineage in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
According to him, the dispute intensified after the death of his father, when he was allegedly informed by senior family members that he was expected to assume a traditional custodial role connected to the Egungun masquerade.
Mr. Oyenuga, a practising Christian, said he declined the role on religious grounds—a decision he claims has since placed his life and that of his family at risk.
Attack in Lagos
The most recent incident reportedly occurred on 8 December 2024 at Mr. Oyenuga’s residence at No. 2 Lawrence Lane, Bayo Kuku Road, Lagos, where he had relocated in an effort to live anonymously.
He alleged that two relatives, identified as Chief Alaapinni Oyenuga (also known as Liasu Oyenuga) and Abiodun Oyenuga, arrived at the residence and confronted him. During the encounter, he claimed he was physically assaulted and that an attempt was made to forcibly take him away in order to compel his participation in the ritual.
Mr. Oyenuga said he managed to escape and later received medical treatment for injuries sustained in the incident. The case was subsequently reported to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon Annex, Lagos, he said.
Pattern of Violence
According to Mr. Oyenuga, the Lagos attack was not an isolated event. He alleged that he had previously been assaulted in Ogun and Oyo States following similar confrontations with family members over the ritual issue.
“These were not verbal disagreements,” he said. “They involved physical attacks and threats that made it unsafe for my family to remain in one place.”
Despite relocating multiple times within southwestern Nigeria, Mr. Oyenuga said he and his family continued to face intimidation, leaving them in a state of constant fear.
Impact on Family
The father of two expressed deep concern for the safety and psychological wellbeing of his wife and children, noting that the repeated threats and attacks have caused significant anxiety and emotional distress.
“My greatest fear is not just for myself, but for my wife and children,” he said. “No family should have to live like this because of their beliefs.”
Call for Intervention
Mr. Oyenuga has called on relevant security agencies and authorities to intervene, stressing that the matter has escalated beyond a private family disagreement and now raises broader concerns about personal safety, religious freedom, and the limits of cultural enforcement.
Efforts to obtain comments from the individuals named in the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.