Eight years after overcoming ‘Badoo’ in Ikorodu, community announces maiden edition of Ibeshe Festival 

…Honours Jimi Benson

CITIZEN COMPASS—Should they decide to roll on the floor, clap their hands in jubilation and do any other thing to appreciate the creator of the universe, they need to be encouraged to do more.

Reason being that eight years ago, they survived and triumphed over a deadly cultists’ gang otherwise known as ‘Badoo’, which embarked on a reign of terror, the Ibeshe Kingdom Development Association (IKIDAS) in Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, in the South-West part of Nigeria, has decided to roll the drums in honour of the owner of the universe who has spared their lives and rescued them from the hands of this deadly gang which delighted joy in supping the blood of innocent residents.

Citizens Compass reported that ‘Badoo’ members operated freely for several months, reverberated across the state and created fear among Lagosians at large.

During this period, the Police appeared overwhelmed. Human and vehicular movements in parts of Ikorodu were restricted as nobody could dare the gang.

‘Badoo’ operated with pestles, grinding stones and white handkerchiefs for different purposes.

After gaining entrance into victims’ homes, its first assignment was to forcefully penetrate its female victims, wipe their genitals with the white handkerchiefs, hit them with the pestles or grinding stones and use other handkerchiefs to wipe their blood.

This gang succeeded in raping many housewives, launched a first attack on males and thereafter send them to their early graves.

Some communities in Ibeshe which witnessed such deadly attacks were Owode-Ibeshe, Abuja, Oluwoye and Oke-Ota-Ona among others.

Thanks to the bravery and cooperation of residents and elders in the town who did not undermine anybody regardless of their tribes and race.

In Ibeshe, the word, “non-indigenes” means nothing to residents as the community welcomes all and Sundry provided the person does not indulge in criminal activities.

Ibeshe, a rare community where indigenes, non indigenes and land owners relate as a family, has taken its enviable position in Lagos State particularly IBLCDA.

Today, ‘Badoo’ has become a thing of the past while peace and tranquility have returned to the town and the next is to promote culture, tourism and showcase whatever God has blessed the community with.

A testament to this was the various programmes that are being packaged by the community.(IKIDASS).

Yesterday, the community announced the maiden edition of Ibeshe Festival taking place from December 13 to 20, 2025.

The press conference was held at Ibeshe Town Hall with important personalities like Oba Richard Abayomi Ogunsanya, Bisoro 1, Olubeshe of Ibeshe land, Chief Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya, Chairman IKIDASS, Deputy Chairman IKIDASS Mohamed Alinson, Barrister Ade Ayeni, representing IBLCDA Council Chairman, the Community Development Association (CDA’S) and other dignitaries in attendance.

While welcoming the stakeholders, Dr Alinson introduced the highlights of the festival, especially the cultural heritage and plans of Ibeshe land, towards achieving peace progress and development of Ibeshe.

He said the programme will be a memorable one.

IKIDASS Chairman, Chief Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya in his speech said that Ibeshe has 14 settlements and their Baales and that the traditional leaders hold regular meetings toward the development of the land.

Furthering, he said that towns like Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta in Ogun State, Ikorodu , Igbogbo and some others celebrate their days.

“We are Coming together with the primary objective to celebrate our own day, though this comes with various challenges,”

He said that IKIDASS was registered with IBLCDA and would soon do the same with the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC).

According to him, it took the Community series of meetings to come up with this cross-cultural transformation in Ibeshe land.

Olusanya said the programme was supposed to be a week-long activity but would be streamlined.

He said, “Ibeshe Kingdom is great, as it has wide-range of commercial activities,”

The Chairman appreciated former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola for kick-starting the development of Ibeshe.

He said first day of the programme would be as follows;

First day Boat Reggatta , Iwure Odun during which all cultural ethnic groups would feature their various displays.

According to him, 52 card playing competitions like Ayo, draft, ludo and others would be explored.

Venue is Ibeshe palace as people from neighboring communities would grace the occasion.

On October 17, 2025,,being the 2nd programme, all youths will come out to join CDA’s, market women, artisans and ethnic groups while horse riding would be featured and the first ibeshe Queen would be crowned. “Ibeshe Queen is our Ambassador. She must be a girl with proven quality, irrespective of the tribe or religion, provided she was born and schooled in Ibeshe land, she would wear the crown for a year,” he said.

The chairman said the grand finale would be graced by the Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, as our Special Guest of Honour.

He said, “there is no ward that has products like Ward C4 which has produced men like Honorable Baba Jimi Benson, whose impact has been felt around the whole 30 wards in our local Council, another is Honorable Abisola Olusanya, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and also Hon. Mathew Arowolo.”

He said there will be awards in different categories for good performance for Baale’s, CDAs on how they maintain peace and development.

He also said that the proceeds realized from the programme would be used for infrastructural development, like education and many others.

On awards, he said, “Awards would be in categories, that Honourable Babajimi Benson will be awarded”Grand Commander ibeshe kingdom Association.”

“Category 2 will be for employers of labour and entrepreneurs. Category 3 will be for youth and on peaceful coexistence .

Oba Richard Abayomi Ogunsanya, Bisoro 1 Olubeshe of Ibeshe unveiled the programme of events as an African fabric, cap, headtie and T-shirts were showcased.

In his speech, he said” I know all residents of Ibeshe land as indigenes and I do not see anyone as a visitor,” said the monarch.

Continuing, he said, Ibeshe was not as big as this, but we have grown bigger and stronger.

He appreciated Ashipa Kaoli, the Baale’s, CDAs, CDC and the youths of the land for making peace reign in the entire community.

However, the traditional ruler cautioned that he would not tolerate any act of disunity from any quarter in Ibeshe Kingdom.

Barrister Ade Ayeni, who represented the Council Chairman, Omo Oba Hameed Olalekan Aroyewun, said Ibeshe is blessed with human, capital and material resources that he is ready to be in the forefront for progress.

He sent his congratulatory messages.

The first Ibeshe Festival will commence with a football match on Saturday at Kith and Kin Schools at 10 a.m.

The five years plan to be unveiled by the monarch is for the building of a modern palace for the Olubeshe the official unveiling of ‘Ibeshe Arise’, A comprehensive Five-year development plan, aimed at driving the growth and modernization of Ibesheland, including the construction of a modern Aafin Olubeshe would be unveiled by the monarch and the project would commence immediately.

The Fuji music star, Alhaji Taye Currency, would also be featured at the grand finale to entertain the invited guests.