Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, returned to his palace on Friday, January 1, two months after a mob invaded his palace, carted away his staff of office, foods items and other belongings on October 20.
In October, there were demonstrations against police brutality across the country, organised under the #EndSARS campaign.
The protest reached its peak when security operatives believed to be soldiers opened fire at protesters at Lekki tollgate on October 20, Lagos state.
Following the shooting incident, Lagos state recorded wanton destruction of lives and properties by hoodlums.
The crisis that erupted in the state saw the invasion of the palace of the monarch, with men and women carting away any item in sight, Some persons even swam in the pool inside the palace.
However, military officers intervened and Akiolu was rescued from the palace, while buildings within the premises were vandalised.
Akiolu’s staff of office was also seized, and a young man was later seen in a video on social media, running away with the item.
Lagos council of obas described the invasion as a “sacrilege”, and called for the quick return of the staff of office.
Shortly after, the staff of office was said to have been found and ritual rites were performed to welcome it back to the palace.
Announcing the Oba’s return after 10 weeks, Oreoluwa Finnih, senior special assistant to the Lagos governor on health, tweeted that the monarch returned to Iga Idunganran palace on Friday.
She also posted a video on her handle, which showed the traditional ruler wearing a face mask and dancing.
He was also surrounded by persons who appeared to be other title holders, praise singers, and guards.
The tweet on Finnih’s Twitter handle, which was later deleted, reads;
Our daddy is back home… Oba of Lagos, HRM, Alayeluwa Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu’s triumphant entry to Iga Idunganran Palace, today, Friday, 1st January, 2021.
