20 arrested as police, Ogun youths clash over traditional festival

Ikenne town in Ikenne Local Government area of Ogun State was embroiled in crisis on Saturday as some youths insisted on going ahead to celebrate the annual Oro festival despite the ban by the state government.

PUNCH Online gathered that the crisis had been building for some days now, with the youth holding protests in the town and insisting that they would celebrate the annual festival with or without the approval of the government.

The crisis was said to have, however, taken a new dimension on Saturday morning as the youth came out and began burning tyres across the major roads in the town, insisting that the Oro festival would be celebrated

This was said to have led to a face-off with the police, who had been monitoring the situation to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

Some of the viral videos posted on social media showed flames of fire billowing from burnt tyres in some places in the town.

A voice accompanying the video had said, “Ikenne on fire, and this is because the youth are being prevented from celebrating Oro festival”.

An anonymous source told our crrespondent that the youth had for days been expressing their bitterness over the cancellation of the festival, just as it occurred last year.

The source said, “It has been an ongoing crisis for some time now, and it is because the town is polarised over the kingship tussle.

“I guess the government is mindful of the fragile peace in the town and wouldn’t want anyone to hide under one festival to unleash mayhem and so it said that the festival should not be celebrated just like what happened last year.

“Some youths are, however, hellbent on celebrating the festival, and this is what causes the face-off with the police”.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

The CP said the state command is on top of the situation, and it has arrested 20 suspects and impounded two vehicles in connection with the pandemonium.

Alamutu said, “We are very much aware of the situation, it is a fallout of the longstanding kingship crisis in the town, and recently, the court dismissed the one currently on the throne, but the judgment had been appealed.

“So based on the tense atmosphere, the local government, which is the consenting authority for the festival, said that it should not be celebrated so that it won’t lead to any breach of peace. We did the same thing last year, but some youths who are being misguided decided they must have their way.

“We have arrested 20 of them, impounded two vehicles, and everyone will soon be brought to the state command at Eleweran, Abeokuta, to answer for their misdeeds.”