A Nigerian man, Olusegun Emmanuel Oladosu, has cried out over what he described as persistent threats to his life from his family members and Egungun deity worshippers, for refusing to continue the traditional worship practices of his forefathers.
Speaking during a phone interview, Oladosu alleged that his family, led by Chief Apena, has continued to harass, assault, and threaten him after rejecting the role of stepping into his late father’s shoes as Chief Oje Priest, a foremost leader of the Egungun deity.
He further alleged that his elder brother, who had earlier refused the same role on religious grounds, died under mysterious circumstances, which he believes was spiritually connected to the pressure from the family and their deity.
“I am Mr. Olusegun Emmanuel Oladosu of No. 22, Jebe, Iloye Temidire, Sango Ota, Ogun State. I was born into a family deeply rooted in African Traditional Religion, specifically the worship of the Egungun deity,” he stated.
“My father was a prominent priest and ensured all his children worshipped the Egungun. He tied our basic rights—education, food, clothing—to our loyalty to the deity. But in 1990, I told him I had accepted Christ and could no longer worship Egungun. He became enraged and banished me from his presence.”
Oladosu, who is now residing in the United States of America, narrated how the threats became more violent over the years. “In 2012, my wife had a ghastly accident just three days after my uncle, Chief Apena, came to our house and issued a warning. He chanted incantations and gave her three days to leave me alone.”
He added, “On August 4th, 2017, OPC members stormed an outdoor crusade we organized and beat up my wife. That same day, Chief Apena called and said he made a vow to my father to bring me back into Egungun worship.”
He narrated how his brother was allegedly killed: “After my father died, Chief Apena called my elder brother and told him to assume the priesthood. My brother replied, ‘I am a Christian, and the Bible forbids worshipping other gods.’ Apena threatened him. Shortly after, my brother’s legs and hands started swelling. We took him to the hospital, but doctors couldn’t diagnose anything. He later died, bleeding from his nose, mouth, and ears.”
Oladosu himself faced multiple attacks. “On November 2, 2017, four men from Imasayi stormed my house in Sagamu with Egungun festival posters bearing my picture and name as a sponsor. Two days later, six men invaded my farm and destroyed my cassava, yam, maize, watermelon, and even poisoned my fish pond.”
He continued: “On November 13, 2017, I was summoned by four deity leaders—Chief Oluwo Ifa, The Apena, The Ilado, and Asipa Awo—who warned me to return to the Egungun religion or face severe consequences. I told them, ‘I am now a Christian and have no interest in idol worship.’ They vowed to make me regret it.”
On November 14, 2017, Oladosu said he was accosted by four hefty men with charms who tried to drag him to a shrine. “I refused. The next day, they attacked my house in Sango Ota, looted my belongings, and left me with injuries.”
Following that, he fled to his mother-in-law’s home in Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta, but his attackers tracked him there.
“On November 16, 2017, they came again. I told them I was still a Christian. They beat me with hard objects. I managed to escape by jumping over the fence, and I fractured my left ankle. I was rushed to General Hospital, Sokenu, Abeokuta.”
“In January 2018, I found a fetish charm wrapped in red cloth placed at my house’s entrance. Apena later called to say if I crossed it, I would die like my brother,” he alleged.
Oladosu said he realized nowhere in Nigeria or most African countries was safe for him, especially since Egungun culture is widespread in the South, and Christians are persecuted in the North.
“I knew I had to flee. My father’s network as a spiritual leader across Africa meant there was no safe refuge except the United States of America,” he said.
A police report signed by the Divisional Crime Officer of Ibara Police Station, DSP Dada Segun, dated December 4, 2017, confirmed the attacks on Oladosu and stated that efforts were ongoing to arrest and prosecute the suspects. However, no arrests have been made as of the time of this report.
Additionally, an affidavit sworn by Mr. Bankole Kesi, Chairman of Aderukpo Drive Community Development Association, corroborated the November 16 attack.
“In the affidavit, I confirmed that around 10:25 p.m., some hoodlums stormed our community with guns and dangerous weapons and attacked Mrs. Adegbenro Olufunke and her son-in-law, Mr. Oladosu. They both sustained injuries and were rushed to General Hospital, Sokenu,” Kesi stated.
Oladosu is now calling on the government, international human rights bodies, and Christian organizations to intervene and protect people facing religious persecution for refusing traditional deity worship in Africa.
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