Oyo town clarifies movement restriction, assures residents of normal activities

March 09, 2025

By Ayinde Adeleke

The office of the Chief of Staff to the Aladfin of Oyo has clarified that the earlier announcement of movement restriction in Oyo town was not intended to be coercive or imply a curfew.

The restriction was part of the traditional Orò rites being performed in respect of Oba Abimbola Abdul-Akeem Owóadé’s ascendancy to the throne.

The Chief of Staff’s office acknowledged that the use of words like “curfew,” “arrest,” and “detention” in the earlier release may have caused concern among the populace.

However, the office emphasized that these terms were used in a loose, traditional sense and not meant to be taken literally.

Oba Abimbola Owoade, being a practicing Muslim and a man of faith, has directed that the issue of curfew be discountenanced.

The monarch urged the people of Oyo to go about their normal duties without fear of arrest, detention, or molestation.

The office of the Chief of Staff regretted any confusion caused by the earlier release and accepted responsibility for the misunderstanding.

The traditional Orò rites are customary in Oyo, and the restriction of movement during this period is aimed at protecting the lives of all individuals in the town.