Emmanuel Adigwe
The Ekiti State police command has banned the celebration of the 2020 Ogun Onire Festival in Ire Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state following death of two persons who were killed in a violent crisis over the traditional event.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, two groups in the community clashed over an announcement of the cancellation of the festival, resulting in the killing of the two persons and greatly unsettling the peace of the town on Monday.
Trouble started when the traditional ruler, the Onire, Victor Bobade announced that the festival will not hold this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Some groups kicked against this and the Ogun worshippers did not take the announcement of the monarch kindly and this led to a mob attack in the palace of the traditional leader.
The Police Commissioner in the state, Tunde Mobayo, on Wednesday, got involved to prevent an anarchy.
“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force, Ekiti State Command, has been drawn to the proposed plan of the people of Ijero-Ekiti Community to celebrate their Ogun Festival scheduled for Thursday 13th August, 2020 amidst the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement by the police commissioner read.
“The Command wishes to remind the good people of Ekiti State, particularly the people of Ijero-Ekiti community that the Federal Government as well as the State Government’s directive that all gatherings are prohibited as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 is still in force.”