A female TikTok content creator at the centre of the controversy surrounding this year’s Oloolu Masquerade Festival in Ibadan, Oyo State, has broken her silence, denying reports that she filmed the sacred Oloolu masquerade and dismissing widespread rumours that she died after the incident.
The woman, identified as Wasilat, said she neither recorded the revered traditional figure nor violated the customs surrounding the annual festival as alleged on social media.
Speaking during a telephone interview on Lagelu FM’s Ibi Aye N Lo program hosted by Adesoye Omotosho on Monday, Wasilat insisted that many of the claims circulating online about her were false.
“I am not dead. I did not capture the Oloolu masquerade. May I not be implicated; I did not record Oloolu,” she said.
She explained that on the day of the incident, she had unexpectedly gone to her family’s shop around the Oremeji area of Ibadan, although she had earlier been at home.
According to her, she did not even open the shop but remained outside after discovering business activities had already ended for the day.
She said she noticed people moving along the road and also saw an Amotekun security vehicle passing through the area.
“I saw people passing, and I saw an Amotekun vehicle passing. Oloolu did not even pass through that route. So I filmed it and posted it on social media,” she said.
Wasilat added that shortly after uploading the video, many users on TikTok urged her to remove it.
She said the following day, some people came to meet her at the shop over the video.
Expressing disappointment over the controversy, she said she did not understand why those who witnessed what happened failed to defend her.
“I do not know why the eyewitnesses on Thursday did not defend me. I don’t know who came up with that agenda, but I know God will judge,” she added.
The incident generated widespread attention after reports claimed the TikTok content creator narrowly escaped death for allegedly recording a procession linked to the Oloolu Masquerade Festival.
Social media platforms were flooded with claims that she had died after violating traditional customs associated with the sacred masquerade. Several videos also emerged online showing her taking part in what appeared to be traditional cleansing rites at the Oloolu compound in Ibadan.
The rumours sparked heated debates among Nigerians, with many questioning the authenticity of the claims while others discussed the place of traditional beliefs in modern society.
However, the spokesperson to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Adeola Oloko, also dismissed reports that the woman recorded the sacred Oloolu masquerade itself.
According to him, she mistakenly captured Alawo Oloolu, a figure associated with the Oloolu tradition, rather than the revered masquerade.
Oloko said officials contacted the Mogaji of the Oloolu compound, who confirmed that the woman had mistaken Alawo Oloolu for the actual Oloolu masquerade.
“She did not capture Oloolu; she mistook it for Alawo,” Oloko said.
He explained that after the video was uploaded, the woman’s family later approached the traditional custodians after she reportedly developed unusual health challenges.
According to him, the family sought intervention from the custodians in line with the customs of the land.
“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,” Oloko said.
He used the opportunity to remind members of the public to respect traditional instructions associated with the festival.
“We have told people to obey simple instructions; women are not supposed to see Oloolu, but out of curiosity, she disobeyed,” he added.
Oloko, however, said he could not confirm reports circulating online that the woman disguised herself as a man in order to secretly record the procession.
“I cannot confirm she disguised herself as a man. Those are accounts on social media. But she took the footage or photo on the street,” he said.
Videos that went viral after the incident appeared to show Wasilat undergoing traditional cleansing rites surrounded by traditional worshippers.
In one of the videos, her head appeared to have been shaved while she was dressed in red garments and taking part in rituals.
Social media users also claimed that giant African snails, a ram and other traditional items were presented as part of the prescribed rites.
Another video appeared to show a goat being slaughtered during the ceremony, while several online users claimed that the woman’s mother pleaded with traditional custodians to spare her daughter’s life.
Despite the speculation, another Ibadan-based content creator, Ayo Adams, said his visit to the Oloolu compound confirmed that Wasilat was alive and recovering.
In a post on X, Adams said officials at the compound explained that Wasilat had sought help after she reportedly experienced health concerns, which she linked to the recording.
According to him, security operatives accompanied her and members of her family to the Oloolu compound, where traditional rites were performed.
“This morning, we were at Oloolu’s compound, and they informed us that the lady is alive,” Adams wrote.
He added that the woman was seen moving around the Ogun shrine within the Oloolu compound as part of the prescribed rites before she later reunited with her family.
“The secretary of the compound confirmed that the lady has reunited with her family and is currently recovering,” he stated.
The controversy has once again drawn national attention to the Oloolu Festival, one of Ibadan’s oldest and most respected traditional festivals.
Held annually, the festival attracts traditional rulers, worshippers, cultural enthusiasts and visitors from different parts of Yorubaland and beyond.
The event is deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition and features prayers, rituals, sacrifices, drumming, dancing and colourful processions.
Traditional custodians say the festival is organised to honour ancestors and seek peace, protection, prosperity and the wellbeing of the community.
Over the years, the festival has also become a major cultural attraction, bringing together residents and tourists interested in Yoruba heritage. However, organisers have consistently reminded the public that some aspects of the celebration remain sacred and are governed by long-standing customs, including restrictions on who may view certain processions or record particular traditional rites.