The annual New Yam festival in Ibule-Soro in the Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State went awry on Friday as community residents scrambled for safety when the festival was disrupted by two opposing factions.
It was reported that the annual festival, which usually heralds the eating of new yam, was greeted with sporadic shootings by some subjects loyal to the town’s traditional ruler and those against the ascension of the community leader to the traditional stool of the agrarian community.
Trouble started when some residents who opposed the selection and installation of the monarch kicked against the date picked for the celebration while the monarch picked another date.
According to a source in the community, the Olubule, Oba Ogunlade, had fixed the new yam festival for August 25, which will coincide with the first anniversary of his coronation, but this did not go down well with some of the indigenes who believed there was a particular date for the celebration, which cannot be changed.
Those against the monarch, however, fixed the date for the celebration of the new yam festival to Friday, August 9, which they claimed was the actual date the tradition of the town stipulated.
He explained that there had been no love lost between the monarch and some indigenes who claimed that the process that led to his emergence was fraudulent and dragged the monarch before the court, and the case is pending at the appellate court.
The development caused palpable tension in the community when both the monarch and the families fixed different dates for the New Yam festival in the community.
The sources, however, said indigenes of the community had set out for the celebration before a detachment of security personnel arrived in town and dispersed them.
He alleged that the security personnel were in the community at the invitation of the monarch, Oba Ogunlade, who did not want the festival to be held.
He said, “This is to inform you that there has been a serious crisis in Ibule Soro since yesterday (Friday) around 12:16 pm until now. This is beyond control as the police invaded us, shooting sporadically, terrorising the entire community.
“Teargas every nook and cranny, and this is seriously affecting people of all ages, even the young generation; many were in the hospital just because of this act.
“The security people came, shooting sporadically and firing tear gas at everyone in sight. They even fired tear gas into various houses where we have elderly people. They broke into several houses and arrested people.
“As I speak, many Indigenous people are receiving treatment in various hospitals, while police have arrested many youths too. We do not know that celebrating the new yam festival has become a crime. We were celebrating without any problem until the security people came.”
He added that several indigenes of the town have been arrested and taken to the police station at Igbara-Oke, the headquarters of the council area.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the development, said the situation has been brought under control in the community.
She denied the allegation that the police came to the community to take sides in the dispute but maintained that it is the duty of the police in the area to maintain law and order in the community and the state.
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