Traditional Festival Turns Bloody in Ekiti Community; Monarch Escapes Death |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

One person has been reportedly killed while scores were wounded early Monday at Ire community, Ekiti state, as youths protested the ban on the celebration of the annual Ogun traditional festival.

Already, the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Bobade Adeleke, has fled the Palace, while his car and other valuables were set ablaze.

It was gathered that while security agents were trying to restore peace, the irate youths turned against them leading to the vandalization of one of their operational vehicles.

In the wake of the outbreak of the global pandemic, Covid 19, the Ekiti state government had placed a ban on the celebration of any form of traditional festival by any community that can attract more than 20 persons.

Oba Adeleke, while trying to enforce government directive by advising the Ogun Adherents to observe Covid 19 protocols, met resistance from the youths who insisted on celebrating the festival.

The protest, which started on Sunday, spilled over to Monday and turned bloody during which one person was killed.

According to reports, the traditional ruler had to be whisked away by the people when the angry youths attacked the palace with dangerous weapons.

Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday Abutu,  said that police was on top of the matter and that more personnel had already been deployed to restore peace.