The TikTok content creator at the centre of the controversy surrounding the 2026 Oloolu Masquerade Festival in Ibadan, Oyo State, has denied filming the sacred Oloolu masquerade and dismissed widespread rumours that she died after the incident.
Speaking during a telephone interview on Lagelu FM on Monday, the woman, identified as Wasilat, insisted she only recorded a procession near the Oremeji area and never captured the revered masquerade.
“I am not dead. I did not capture the Oloolu masquerade,” she said, explaining that she filmed people passing by, including an Amotekun vehicle, before uploading the video to social media.
According to her, social media users urged her to delete the footage, while others later accused her of recording the sacred figure. She maintained that she was wrongly implicated.
Her comments came after videos circulated online showing her undergoing traditional cleansing rites at the Oloolu compound following the controversy.
The spokesperson to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Adeola Oloko, also said the woman did not film the Oloolu masquerade but mistakenly recorded Alawo Oloolu, a figure associated with the festival.
Oloko said the woman’s family later approached the traditional custodians after she reportedly developed health challenges, prompting the performance of customary rites in line with local tradition. However, he said he could not verify claims that she disguised herself as a man to record the procession.
Ibadan-based content creator Ayo Adams, who visited the Oloolu compound, said officials confirmed that Wasilat was alive, had reunited with her family and was recovering after the traditional intervention.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command said it had no official record of the incident, with police spokesperson CSP Ayanlade Olayinka stating that no report had been filed at any nearby police station.
