Nigerians In US Demand High-Level Probe Into Death Of Lukman Arounfale, Disclose Plans To Hold ‘Solidarity March’
Some Nigerians living in the United States of America have called for a high-level probe into the death of Chief Lukman Ojora Arounfale, a Nigerian, who was also an American citizen.
His Royal Highness, Chief Lukman Ojora Arounfale, was until his death on Saturday, April 26, 2025, the Baba Oba (Royal Father) of Oloyotunji of Oyotunji African village, South Carolina, United States.
‘We had a series of communications with the deceased man before he passed away, ditto his wife and his driver who were also assaulted on April 17, 2025, at about 4:00 pm’ the ‘Justice for Baba Oba’ group submitted in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com while lamenting that Lukman Ojora Arounfale’s death had come barely one year after the passing of His Royal Majesty, Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II, Oloyotunji of Oyotunji African Village, South Carolina, United States.
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‘HRH Chief Arounfale, an American citizen, honored an invitation by the Alaafin of Oyo via a man called Almorufu Yekini based in the USA. A few days after he went to meet with the Alaafin according to the information gathered from the victim on Monday, April 21, 2025 that he, his wife and driver were assaulted barbarically by a group of people called ‘palace aides’ on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Chief Arounfale narrated that he had the worst experience of his life ever. He noted that in an interview/ conversation with the Alaafin of Oyo about Oyotunji village in US, his role in Oyotunji, while Alaafin claimed that the Oyo people established Oyotunji, it came to a point where the Nigerian Royal father asked why and how the victim (Baba Oba) was installed with the title of Baba Oba when he is not an Oyo indigene in Nigeria? In response, the deceased man narrated and indicated that Oyotunji was established by African Americans whose ancestors were sold into slavery during the transatlantic slave trade.
He added that it was the Ooni of Ife, the Yoruba leader who enthroned the last 2 kings in Oyotunji here in the United States. Because the Oyotunji people claimed and believed they are descendants of Oduduwa from the Source, Ile-Ife. During the hot conversation, the Alaafin’s aides argued that it was Alaafin who crowned the late kings, His Royal Highness, Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi I and II, Oloyotunji of Oyotunji that passed away last year, 2024. While Chief Arounfale maintained that it was not true insisting that late Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II, the Ooni of Ife was the one who crowned Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II in 1982 and II in 2005, and issued them the Letters of Right-To-Obaship Throne having performed the IPEBI tradition rites in Ile-Ife’ the group said.
The ‘Justice For Baba Oba Oyotunji’ alleged that while Baba Oba of Oyotunji had provided evidence to support the points he had made, Alaafin and his aides were dissatisfied and he was allegedly attacked, beaten along with his wife and driver who they accused of recording the conversation without permission.
He was allegedly thrown down the stairs and this had left him with body and head injuries while those who accompanied him were arrested by the police but however not detained.
While disclosing plans to hold a solidarity march for him, the group insisted that Chief Lukman Ojora Arounfale died as a result of the injuries he sustained on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
‘Again, we have put forward an Acceleration Agenda to supercharge these efforts. We urge the Governments of the United States and Nigeria to investigate the matter and prefer charges against the Alaafin of Oyo and his palace aides.
Our belief is that in every country, without exception, civil society voices must be heard. They must be at the table helping to shape policy and on the ground helping to deliver change’ they added-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
