Residents of Ipaja area of Lagos State have been thrown into panic and confusion, following an alleged discovery of some
ghosts in their community. A woman, who reportedly sold amala at a restaurant located at Alaja-Megida road, Ayobo, Ipaja,
Lagos, and her apprentices reportedly disappeared after someone who came to eat at the canteen recognised the food seller.
Some concerned residents reportedly visited the restaurant after the discovery and met the place deserted. The reports have
been generating hot debates on social media as some of those who had eaten at the restaurant expressed shock.
A Lagosian, who said he lives two streets away from the restaurant, confirmed that the food seller and her workers had not
resumed business since the incident occured on Sunday, January 22, 2023.
“My house is just two streets away from this place (restaurant). I eat here regularly and the woman’s food is so sweet. I
was even asking one of the sales girls out so that I would be eating free food. The day she came to visit me in my house,
she met my girlfriend there, so I had to lie to my girlfriend that I was owing her madam.
That was how I gave the girl N2,000 to give to her madam,” the resident, who identified himself as Hilary Ushie, said.
Another resident, Deji Odun, also claimed to have patronised the food seller, saying, “I have eaten there a couple of times
whenever I visited a friend that lives in the neighbourhood.
There was nothing to show that the woman or any of her aides were ghosts. This is shocking.” Opabunmi Mary Ogidan said she
lives around Ayobo in Lagos, and that the person that uncovered the alleged ghost status of the food seller and others,
informed people around the restaurant that the woman and her three daughters had died in a car accident a few months ago.
“Yes, it’s true.
The incident involved a mother and her three daughters who were helping her out at the restaurant. We were told the four of
them died in a car accident. They came here selling amala.Someone who knew they were dead saw one of them and they
disappeared,” Ogidan said. The Point had reported that a prominent Ifa diviner, Ifayemi Elebuibon, had explained that ghost
s co-exist with humans in the society, especially in big cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Osogbo, noting that those
who died before their ordained time usually return to the earth to complete their time. According to Elebuibon, the
existence of ghosts is enshrined in the Yoruba belief about reincarnation, known in local parlance as ‘Akudaya’.