Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A shocking viral video has surfaced just two days before Osun State's crucial governorship election, showing a suspected female political thug, known locally as "Arugba," issuing a chilling threat to voters: anyone who dares to vote for any party other than the All Progressives Congress (APC) will have the finger they use to cast their ballot severed. The footage, which has sparked outrage across social media, shows the woman alongside her companions, speaking in Yoruba and warning residents against coming out to vote if they do not intend to support the APC. "We will cut the finger you used to vote [for] any party except APC. That finger won't follow you go back home that day," she declared. She further dared voters, saying, "Don't worry to even come out to vote [if you are not going to vote for APC]. Don't dare us. We are not making empty threats. We mean what we say".
The video, which was widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter) by users including Adekunle Babatunde Olayiwola and amplified by Afrobeats star Davido, has heightened fears of widespread voter intimidation ahead of the August 15 poll. The threat comes amid growing concerns over political violence in Osun State, where the police have reportedly confirmed at least 30 politically motivated killings in the run-up to the election. The latest video also comes a day after Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, was invited and interrogated by the police over a separate viral video in which he was allegedly heard threatening to kill members of the Accord Party.
The woman's nickname, "Arugba," carries a particularly troubling irony. In Yoruba culture, the Arugba is a sacred figure in the Osun-Osogbo festival – a young virgin chosen through Ifa divination to carry a calabash of offerings to the Osun grove, symbolising purity, peace and cultural heritage. The 2026 festival, which is currently underway, features 10-year-old Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi as the ceremonial Arugba. By appropriating that sacred title to issue threats of violence, the woman in the video has provoked particular outrage, as she has transformed a symbol of cultural reverence into an instrument of electoral terror.
The APC has not officially distanced itself from the woman or her threats, and the Osun State Police Command has yet to confirm whether any arrest has been made in connection with the video. However, police spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi had earlier warned against thuggery and voter intimidation, while the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed over 15,000 officers to the state to ensure a peaceful election. Civil society organisations, including the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), have also raised alarms over the recruitment and deployment of political thugs to intimidate voters and attack opponents. The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has condemned thuggery, intimidation and inflammatory rhetoric capable of disrupting the election.
The threat to cut voters' fingers is not merely a piece of political rhetoric; it is a direct assault on the democratic process, designed to instil fear and suppress voter turnout. The woman's words, "That finger won't follow you go back home," are a stark warning that the act of voting itself could carry a brutal personal cost. For many residents, the threat has revived memories of past electoral violence in Osun State, where political thuggery has been a recurring feature since the return to democratic rule in 1999. The 2026 election has already been marked by a series of violent incidents, including the killing of APC supporters in Ilesa and the shooting of a 14-year-old boy.
The woman's use of the name "Arugba" has also drawn attention to the intersection of politics and traditional culture in Osun State. The Osun-Osogbo festival, which is currently taking place, is one of Nigeria's most important cultural events, drawing traditionalists and tourists from around the world. By invoking the sacred title of the festival's central figure, the woman in the video has not only threatened voters but also desecrated a revered cultural symbol. Traditionalists have previously expressed concern over the timing of the election, which coincides with the festival, and the latest video will only deepen their unease.
As Osun State prepares for Saturday's election, the viral video of "Arugba" has become a symbol of the fear and intimidation that have marred the campaign period. The threat to cut voters' fingers is a reminder that the stakes in this election are not just political but deeply personal, and that the violence that has already claimed dozens of lives could escalate further if security agencies fail to act decisively. The police have a duty to investigate the video, identify the woman and her accomplices, and bring them to justice before voters head to the polls. Failure to do so would not only embolden other thugs but also undermine the credibility of the electoral process and the safety of every citizen who dares to exercise their democratic right.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments