Ondo community, police disagree over disruption of traditional festival

There was pandemonium in the Ibule Soro Community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State as some members of the state police command allegedly entered the town and disrupted the annual New Yam Festival celebration.

The New Yam Festival is celebrated annually to mark the beginning of the yam-eating season.

During the celebration, some policemen allegedly arrived at the venue and began shooting sporadically to disperse the crowd and prevent the continuation of the festivities.

It was reported that many residents were injured as they fled for safety, and both social and economic activities in the area were paralysed following the police’s alleged intervention.

As of the time of filing this report, police officers were still reportedly present in the town.

A community member, who identified himself only as Ayo, said on Saturday that the police had disrupted the peace the community had been enjoying.

“There has been a serious crisis in Ibule Soro since yesterday. The situation was beyond my control as the police invaded us, shooting sporadically and terrorising the entire community. Teargas were used, severely affecting both the elderly and the younger generation. Many people ended up in the hospital because of this action.”

However, when contacted on Saturday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, denied that the police had invaded the community but explained that the police intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order due to internal strife.

“The people of Ibule have been experiencing an internal crisis for some time. The command had previously invited the warring parties to lay down their arms and embrace peace, advising those aggrieved to seek legal redress in court.

“Unfortunately, the crisis escalated yesterday (Friday), so the police had to step in to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in the community,” the PPRO stated.

It was, however, reported that members of the community were divided over the festival’s celebration. The disagreement was between two factional groups in the community. The two groups disagreed on the date set for the celebration.

The town’s monarch, Oba Oluleke Ogunlade, had scheduled the New Yam Festival for 25 August to coincide with the first anniversary of his coronation. However, this did not sit well with members of the anti-Oba Ogunlade group, who chose to hold their New Yam Festival on Friday, claiming it was the traditional date for the celebration in the town.