A young woman, identified as Wasilat, who appeared in a viral video performing traditional rites at the Oloolu compound in Ibadan, is alive and has returned home to her family, according to a documentary photographer who visited the site. Ayo Adams, a popular Ibadan-based documentary photographer, disclosed on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, August 3, that he and a group of people went to the Oloolu compound in the Oremeji area of Ibadan, where the compound's secretary confirmed Wasilat had gone back to her family and was on the path to recovery.
Wasilat Reunites with Family
According to Adams, the compound secretary said, "The lady has reunited with her family and is currently recovering." Adams also alleged that police operatives escorted Wasilat and members of her family to the Oloolu compound, where traditional rites were carried out. A video of the TikToker in a shrine, believed to be inside the Oloolu compound, subsequently went viral.
How the Controversy Unfolded
Adams explained that Wasilat had secretly filmed a crowd gathering at the Oloolu compound. She later told some Ibadan residents that her health had begun to deteriorate, and she attributed the condition to her decision to record the scene. The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many users expressing concern for the woman's well-being and debating the consequences of violating traditional prohibitions.
Olubadan Palace Clarifies Viral Oloolu Video
Meanwhile, Chief Adeola Oloko, the spokesperson for the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, offered additional context on Monday, August 3. Oloko stated that the woman did not film the sacred Oloolu masquerade itself but rather Alawo Oloolu, a figure connected to but distinct from the main Oloolu tradition, as the procession moved through a street in the Ibadan axis. He told Legit.ng: "She did not capture Oloolu; she mistook it for Alawo. We contacted the Mogaji of the Oloolu compound, and he confirmed that a woman who mistook Alawo of Oloolu for the real Oloolu masquerade captured it on the street."
Lady Recovering After Oloolu Ritual
Oloko said that shortly after the footage was posted online, Wasilat reportedly experienced an unusual physical condition, which prompted her family to reach out to the Oloolu custodians for assistance. "After posting it, she realised the blood in her body began to dry. So her family reached out to the Oloolu people immediately, and they attended to her in accordance with the tradition of the land," he said. Furthermore, the Olubadan palace stated that women are traditionally forbidden from seeing Oloolu, and he described the incident as a consequence of that prohibition being broken. "We have told people to obey simple instructions; women are not supposed to see Oloolu, but out of curiosity, she disobeyed," he said.
Police Investigation and Related Incidents
The police had not publicly commented on Adams' claims about their involvement at the time of this report. In a related development, the Oyo State Police Command has launched an investigation into the killing of a 24-year-old man, Sefiu Kehinde, who was allegedly attacked by a masquerade and his followers during a procession in the Labiran area of Ibadan. Police said the incident was reported at the Mapo Divisional Police Headquarters by a woman identified as Mrs. Aderemi. This incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding masquerade traditions in the region, as authorities balance cultural practices with public safety.
