Chief Mrs. Sinatu Aduke Sanni, popularly known as ‘Iya Olumo,’ who was the custodian of the deity inside the popular Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital is dead.
Sanni, also known as the tourist center’s mother goddess, died on Wednesday at the age of 137, according to reports.
Her son, Solomon Adio, confirmed her death, saying his mother died after a brief illness at her Itoko home in Abeokuta.
Olumo Rock, according to history, was used as a natural fortress during a long-ago inter-tribal war.
According to history, the Egbas became invisible to their enemies after hiding within the rock, and their enemies searched everywhere for them in order to kill them.
Since then, the Olumo Rock, which saved the Egba people from their enemies, has become a popular tourist attraction in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
For many years, Sanni had been another attraction to tourists as she furnished people with peculiar information about the popular Olumo Rock.
As she aged, she remained the cynosure of all eyes by not showing any sign of tiredness in her duty at the tourist centre.
However, the aged woman died a few months to her 138 birthday.
According to her son, Adio, the doyen lived in one of the enclaves under the rock for more than 40 years where she served the gods of the rock.
“Mama will be 138 years old by August 5. She died after a brief illness.
“She was the mother of the deity. We are going to miss her a lot. Mama lived her life for the rock, for the deity. She was dedicated to the gods,” Adio said.
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