Ondo coastal community commemorates abolition of killing of twins

KILLING newborn twins in Ilaje was a common practice prior to the mid1940s because of the belief that twins brought misfortune upon communities. 

Therefore, tradition demanded that they should be killed or left to die. 

At the time, it was believed that the delivery of twins occurred when the mother is visited by evil spirits or committed a taboo against the spirits of the land. 

The penalty at the time was killing of the twins. This practice, according to indigenes of the Ilaje, lasted until the first half of the 1940s and twins were not allowed to survive beyond the day of their birth, while the mother is subjected to a series of rituals as atonement. 

However, in the early 1940s, things changed when a group of believers, known as the ‘Apostles’, fought fervently to ensure the reversal of the practice of killing twins. 

The Apostles faced stiff opposition, with many of them prosecuted and imprisoned by the Oro cult in the area, but they never relented in their struggle to give freedom to twins in the land, until in the early 1940s when British colonial authorities pronounced it a crime to kill twins. 

In marking the 2021 anniversary of the ban against the killing of twins in Aiyetoro, the only church in the community was filled to capacity, with indigenes from within and outside the country in attendance. 

Speaking during the celebration, the traditional ruler of Ayetoro community and the Spiritual Head of the Holy Apostles Church, the Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo, said the anniversary is a mark of victory over darkness and will serve as a remembrance of the good works of the apostles who campaigned against the killing of twins. 

Oba Ajijo, while speaking during a Special Thanksgiving at the Holy Apostles Church, Ayetoro, in Ilaje Local Government Area, on the theme: ‘Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? James 2:22’, said the freedom of twins was made possible by the struggle of the founding fathers – ‘the Apostles’ — against stopping the killing of twins by Oro cult. 

While giving an account of how the practice of killing twins was abolished, he disclosed that the ban against the killing of twins took effect on August 18,1945, and the people of the community known as ‘The Happy City’, have been celebrating the freedom. 

He said: “Giving birth to twins was a taboo in this area. As a matter of fact, they would be killed instantly. The authority that was responsible for the killing of twins was called Oro cult. 

“The movement of the Apostles to stop the killing of the twins in Ilaje land started in 1943. From 1943 to 1945, many of the Apostles were taken to court and prosecuted and sentenced to jail. “However, in one of the court cases, the custodians of the Oro cult in Ilaje, who were the traditional chiefs both in Mahin and Ugbo kingdoms, denied the allegation levelled against them by the Apostles that they were killing twins, and this gave the Apostles courage to pursue their missions. 

“In 1945, they successfully fought against the killing of twins by saving the lives of the oldest twins in Ilaje land as of today – Taiwo and Kehinde Ejagbomo nee Erukubami who were officially and legally recognised as the first twins in Ilaje who survived the killing of twins by the Oro cult. 

“They were born in 1945 and in line with the extant practice, they were taken into the bush and hidden for several days with their mother and they successfully escaped to where the Apostles were securing and caring for them. 

“As the traditional and spiritual head of this community, it is time for me to tell the story of our forefathers to our children, that despite the tribulation, they never relented in fighting against the good work of God. The killing of twins was stopped by leaders in this community and it is this struggle that led to the creation of this Ayetoro community. 

“On the 18th of August, 1943, the British authorities agreed with our fathers and said killing of twins should not be practised in Ilaje land and that was the end. That is what brought all the twins in Ilaje to life. So, we celebrate life, achievement of our people and the word of God. This is why the church is very happy.” 

Speaking on the importance of the celebration, Oba Ajijo said: “The essence of today’s thanksgiving is to glorify God for the work of our forefathers that established this community. The work of our forefathers is based on truth and faith, and the work that is built on truth and faith must be based on the word of God, on the commandment that says ‘thou shall not kill’. ‘I’d have died 76 years ago if the killing of twins wasn’t abolished’ One of the first set of twins who escaped being killed by the Oro cult, 76-year-old Pa Andrew Kehinde Ejeagbomo, appreciated God for the gift of life and for the good work of the early Apostles who fought against the killing of twins. 

While speaking, he revealed that his father was a leading and prominent member of the Oro cult who believed that twins were children of abomination and should be killed, while his mother was a member of the Holy Apostles Church who did not believe in the killing of twins. 

He said: “God made it possible for people like us to be alive today. If not for God and the Apostles, I would have been dead some 76 years ago. But the Apostle took us and my mother into custody and here we are today. 

“The killings of twins then was paramount in Ilaje, because it was a tradition that no one must give birth to twins. Those that stopped the killing were the founders of Ayetoro known as the Holy ApostlesChurch. The church was against the killing of twins and they preached that it is a sin to kill. 

“I can confirm to you that I have two sets of twins and three of my children have given birth to twins; one of them gave birth to twins thrice. We thank God for the Apostles.” 

Another twin, Mrs Kehinde Owoyele, who lost her twin sister recently, said: “I’m very happy to be alive today. Some years back, it was a taboo for twins to be alive in Ayetoro. So, the annual celebration is to commemorate the stoppage of the killing of twins and celebrate twins in the community.”

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