Ritual sacrifices: Policemen at ease as Oja-Oba police station wears new look

For years, policemen at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Oja-Oba in Osogbo, Osun State battled the menace of ritual sacrifices that were dumped close to the station. The police station is sited beside the king’s palace in the middle of the market. Without a fence, the frontage of the police station became a choice location […]

For years, policemen at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Oja-Oba in Osogbo, Osun State battled the menace of ritual sacrifices that were dumped close to the station.

The police station is sited beside the king’s palace in the middle of the market. Without a fence, the frontage of the police station became a choice location for ritualists to dump sacrifices.

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The traditionalists also perform rites in front of the station in broad daylight and in the middle of the night.

“The experience was always an eyesore. Daily, we see different people coming here to perform rite or drop the calabash of their sacrifices here. You know most of these traditionalists believe that sacrifices should be dropped at T-junction and a busy road path. Ours falls into both as people take this place to the market,” one of the policemen disclosed.

However, the situation has changed as some policemen and spirited individuals have renovated the station and built a fence round the facility.

The Officer in Charge of the station, Adeleke Adewale, was full of joy with this development, hinting that officers on night duty now feel more safe and secure to perform their duties.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Wale Olokode in a chat with Eko Trust expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the renovation of the station and reassured the people of Osun State that police would always ensure the safety of their lives and property.