US-Based Yoruba Monarch Dies After Alleged Assault at Oyo Palace
Yoruba traditional ruler based in the United States, His Royal Highness Chief Lukman Ojora Arounfale, the Baba Oba of Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, has died following an alleged assault ordered by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade.
According to sources close to the royal circle, Chief Arounfale was visiting Oyo State on a diplomatic mission aimed at strengthening cultural ties between Yoruba traditional institutions in the diaspora and those in Nigeria. The visit, however, reportedly took a dark turn after tensions flared between rival factions aligned with the Alaafin of Oyo and supporters of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
Insiders allege that Chief Arounfale, a vocal proponent of unity among Yoruba monarchs, had been mediating in a long-standing supremacy dispute between the Alaafin and the Ooni. His neutral stance and growing influence among diaspora Yoruba communities were believed to have made him a target of suspicion and hostility.
Eyewitnesses claim that during a closed-door meeting at the Oyo palace, Chief Arounfale was subjected to verbal threats, followed by a brutal physical assault allegedly carried out by palace guards under the direct order of the Alaafin. He was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries days later.
The Oyo State Police Command has yet to issue a formal statement, and attempts to reach the palace for comment have been unsuccessful. However, human rights organizations and diaspora leaders are calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
“This is a grave injustice and an attack on the very spirit of Yoruba unity,” said Professor Adetoun Alade, a cultural historian based in Atlanta. “Chief Arounfale represented the hope of reconnecting the Yoruba in the diaspora with their ancestral roots. His death cannot be swept under the rug.”
The incident has sparked outrage among members of the Oyotunji community in South Carolina, with vigils held in his honor and calls for diplomatic intervention by U.S. authorities.
As tension mounts between traditional rulers and their global supporters, this incident threatens to deepen existing divides within the Yoruba traditional system. The Ooni of Ife’s palace has yet to comment on the matter, though insiders suggest that a public statement may be imminent.