The installation of Chief Sunny Kuku as the new regent of the Ijebu kingdom turned chaotic after soldiers dispersed members of the Osugbo cult group during a failed attempt to disrupt the ceremony.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident occurred at the Awujale Palace in Ijebu Ode, where the Osugbo cult reportedly arrived to assert their traditional powers as kingmakers.
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Eyewitnesses said the cultists tried to enforce a ritual before the regent’s installation, leading to a standoff with palace authorities and loyalists present at the event.
Security operatives, including Nigerian Army personnel, swiftly moved in to prevent escalation, firing warning shots to disperse the group and restore order.
Soldier Disperses Osugbo Cult Group as Sunny Kuku Takes Over as Regent
The Osugbo group allegedly insisted they were custodians of tradition and deserved to perform rites before any transition of royal authority.
Palace insiders revealed that the clash stemmed from a long-standing power struggle between traditional institutions and modern governance structures.
Chief Sunny Kuku, a renowned medical practitioner and respected Ijebu chief, was eventually installed as regent after the military intervention.
Sources said the regency move became necessary following Awujale Sikiru Adetona’s prolonged absence due to health concerns.
Supporters of the new regent described the event as peaceful after the intervention, praising the swift response of security forces.
The Osugbo cult members were said to have left without further confrontation, although tension remained high around the palace area.
Local authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but residents are calling for calm and dialogue among traditional groups.
