Activist and Presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, has kicked against the spiritual cleansing of a Tiktoker identified as Wasilat, accused of filming the sacred Oloolu Masquerade in Ibadan, Oyo State, during its celebration held between July 27 and July 30.

Wasilat is alleged to have disguised herself as a man and recorded the revered masquerade despite repeated warnings that women must neither see nor record the masquerade in procession. The young lady is said to have started experiencing unexplained bleeding and emotional distress, leading to a traditional cleansing ceremony conducted by custodians of the Oloolu shrine. Videos shared online showed the traditionalists shaving Wasilat’s hair as part of the cleansing ritual.

Reacting to the cleaning carried out on Wasilat, Omoyele argued that while culture occupies a vital place in our lives, any cultural practice that is oppressive, discriminatory, or insensitive to gender should be abandoned immediately.

”I learned today that a TikToker underwent a traditional “cleansing” ritual after filming an Oloolu masquerade procession.

While culture occupies a vital place in our lives, any cultural practice that is oppressive, discriminatory, or insensitive to gender should be abandoned immediately.

Wasila was ultimately abused and stripped of her dignity by the very people who are often quick to condemn others for engaging in similar acts.

It does not matter whether such abuse is carried out by anyone else.

Any culture, tradition, or belief system that violates human dignity is unacceptable and has no place in a just society.”

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TikToker Wasilat Olalere has denied claims she secretly recorded the annual Oloolu masquerade festival in Ibadan, Oyo State while stating that she is alive, hale and hearty.

Speaking during an interview on Lagelu FM’s Ibi Aye N Lo programme, Wasilat said the claims circulating on social media are false, insisting that she never recorded the revered masquerade.

“I am not de@d. I did not record the Oloolu masquerade. May I never be implicated in such a thing because I did not film Oloolu,” she said

Recounting what had happened, Wasilat explained that she was at home before deciding to visit her family’s shop in the Oremeji area on the day of the incident.

“What happened that day, last Thursday, around the Oremeji axis, I don’t know what prompted me to go to our shop because I was at home. When I got to the shop, I didn’t even open it. I just stayed in front of the shop because we had packed up from that area.

When I saw people passing, I saw an Amotekun vehicle passing. Oloolu did not even pass through that route. Oloolu did not even pass through that route. I only recorded what I saw and uploaded it on TikTok. People in the comment section immediately asked me to delete the video which I did. The following day, some people came to meet me at the shop.

Wasilat said that following the incident, she was taken to Ode Aje, where the prescribed traditional appeasement rites were carried out in response to allegations that she had filmed the sacred Oloolu masquerade.

The traditionalists dressed her in red attire and shaved her hair during the rites. A goat was also slaughtered as part of the ceremony.

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The Nigerian Navy has rescued three passengers from a suspected sea robbery attack along the waterways in Akwa Ibom State.

The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Navy Captain Adebowale Omotosho, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, August 3, 2026.

According to the statement, the rescue was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, under the Eastern Naval Command during a routine night patrol on Tuesday, July 29, 2026.

Omotosho said the patrol team responded after receiving a distress alert at about 9:30 p.m. from a passing boat reporting an ongoing sea robbery attack around the Mbendoro waters.

“The naval team immediately proceeded to the location, where they rescued a passenger boat loaded with tomatoes and its three occupants,” the statement read.

“The patrol team responded after receiving a distress alert at about 9:30 p.m. from a passing boat reporting an ongoing sea robbery attack around the Mbendoro waters.”

The statement identified the rescued passengers as David Okon, Anietie Friday and David Edet.

It added that the victims were travelling from Cameroon to Oron in Akwa Ibom State when their boat came under attack by suspected sea robbers.

Navy said the rescued passengers were safely escorted to the FOB Ibaka facility, noting that no injuries were recorded during the operation.

“The successful operation underscores the Eastern Naval Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and securing Nigeria’s maritime domain through sustained surveillance and rapid response operations,” the statement added.

It added that the command remained committed to combating maritime crime and ensuring a safe and secure environment for legitimate maritime users operating within the nation’s territorial waters.

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