Many women in the ancient town of Ile-Ife remained indoors on Saturday as the annual Oro festival entered its second day.

Although a palace source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity that the festival had nothing to do with the rumoured death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the women believed otherwise.

NAN reports that some national dailies last Wednesday were agog with the news of the death of the Ooni, but was vehemently denied by the traditional council of the ancient town.

The commencement of Oro festival on Friday night, which is to last for seven days, further fueled speculations and anxiety about the monarch’s demise.
Oro is a deity worshipped across Yoruba land, which forbids women from going out at night during the period of the festival.

Although women were only forbidden to go out at night during the traditional festival, some women told NAN that it was better to be on the safe side by staying indoors during the period than to be caught and probably used as sacrifice.

Mrs Rebecca Olaide, a market woman, said she would remain indoors to avoid any unexpected circumstance.

Olaide said she had asked her eldest son to help her to manage her business until the festival was over.