There is a crisis in the Ibule Soro Community, Ifedore Local Government Area, Ondo State, as locals accuse the state police command of disrupting their New Yam Festival. Eyewitnesses allege that during the annual festival, which celebrates the yam harvest and the beginning of the yam-eating season, police arrived and began firing sporadically to disperse the crowd, disrupting the festivities and affecting community peace and security.
Reports indicate that many residents were injured as they fled for safety, and both social and economic activities in the area were halted due to the alleged police intervention.
“There has been a serious crisis in Ibule Soro since yesterday. The situation was out of control as the police invaded, shooting sporadically and terrorizing the community. Teargas was used, severely affecting both the elderly and younger residents. Many people ended up in the hospital,” an eyewitness reported.
However, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, the state police Public Relations Officer, denies the claims of intrusion. She explains that the police’s intervention was intended to prevent a breakdown of law and order due to ongoing internal strife in the community.
“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 seek peace, advising them to seek legal redress in court. Unfortunately, the crisis escalated yesterday (Friday), necessitating police intervention to prevent a total breakdown of law and order,” the PPRO stated.
The community appears divided over the festival’s celebration. Disagreement arose between two factions over the date of the celebration. The town’s monarch, Oba Oluleke Ogunlade, had scheduled the New Yam Festival for August 25 to coincide with the first anniversary of his coronation. However, this was opposed by members of the anti-Oba Ogunlade group, who chose to hold their festival on Friday, claiming it was the traditional date for the celebration.
