Female TikToker Denies Filming Oloolu Masquerade, Dismisses Death Rumours

The female TikTok content creator at the centre of controversy surrounding the annual Oloolu Masquerade Festival in Ibadan, Oyo State, has denied allegations that she recorded the sacred Oloolu masquerade, insisting that the claims circulating on social media are false.

The woman, identified as Wasilat, also dismissed widespread rumours that she had died following the incident, describing the reports as untrue.

Speaking during a telephone interview on Ibi Aye N Lo, a programme aired on Lagelu FM and hosted by Adesoye Omotosho on Monday, Wasilat maintained that she neither filmed the revered traditional masquerade nor violated any cultural restrictions associated with the festival.

“I am not dead. I did not capture the Oloolu masquerade. May I not be implicated; I did not record Oloolu,” she said.

According to her, the incident occurred on Thursday around the Oremeji area of Ibadan when she unexpectedly decided to visit her family’s shop despite initially remaining at home.

She explained that although she got to the shop, she did not open it because business activities had already ended for the day. Instead, she stayed outside the premises, observing people moving along the road.

Wasilat said she noticed an Amotekun security vehicle driving past and decided to record the moment before uploading the video to her TikTok account.

She stressed that the Oloolu masquerade did not pass through the route where she made the recording, insisting that the viral claims linking her video to the traditional figure were inaccurate.

“So I filmed it and posted it on social media. Everyone in the TikTok comment section asked me to delete it. The following day, while I was at the shop, they came to meet me there,” she recalled.

The TikToker expressed disappointment that people who witnessed the incident failed to speak in her defence, saying she remains uncertain about how the allegations originated.

“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 controversy has generated widespread discussion online, with conflicting accounts emerging over the circumstances surrounding the video and renewed debates about cultural traditions, social media content creation and respect for sacred festivals.