Youths Attack Police In Ifedore Over Usurpation of New Yam Festival Rites
A group of dissident youths in Ibule-Soro Community of Ifedore Local Government Area, on Friday, August 9, 2024 attacked the female Divisional Police Officer of Ilara-Mokin; while she was trying to dissuade them from performing the rites of new yam festival, which was the traditional duty of the king.
Crisis ensued when the youths were instigated by some chiefs in the community to undermine the traditional authority of Ibule-Soro monarch, Oba David Oluleke Ogunlade. The chiefs, were said to have supported an aspirant who lost out in the kingship selection process that produced Oba Oluleke Ogunlade.
The Ibule-Soro monarch, disclosed that he got wind of the plans by the dissident chiefs and youths to circumvent his traditional authority by performing the rites of new yam festival. Oba Ogunlade further disclosed that he immediately reached out to the youths and appealed to them not to undermine the tradition of Ibule-Soro community.
“New yam festival is traditionally for the king of Ibule-Soro, and the rites are meant to be performed by the king. Although people of our community are expected to join the king to celebrate the new yam festival, and this fact of tradition is known to everyone.
” I immediately reached out to the instigated youths when I got wind of their plan to undermine my authority. After all appeals to the youths had fell on deaf ears, I had no other choice then to report them to the Divisional Police Officer of Ilara-Mokin. I later reported them to the Ondo State Police Commissioner, after their insistence of going ahead to perform traditional rites of the new yam festival”.
Oba Ogunlade added that Ondo State
Police Commissioner again appealed to the youths, and made them see reason why they should not usurp the traditional authority of the monarch. The youths Initially agreed to shelve their plan, and even went ahead to write an undertaken not to perform the rites of new yam festival.
Meanwhile, the monarch also added that Ondo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, equally sent a warning letter to the youths through the Chairman of Ifedore Local Government, not to usurp the traditional authority of the monarch.
Despite all the persuasive efforts, the youths still went ahead with the performance of the rites of new yam festival. They had already sliced the new yam, and started beating the traditional drum when the police from Ilara-Mokin came to the scene. However, the youths resorted to throwing stones , one of which injured the face of the female DPO.
“It was after the youths had sliced the new yam, and started beating the traditional drum that I invited the DPO of Ilara-Mokin. She was however stoned and injured on the face by these youths. I also invited the Area Commander, but all his pleas were rebuffed by the youths”.
The dissident youths later vandalized palace of the monarch, as well as houses of people known to be sympathetic to the monarch. The unbecoming activities of the youths
also distrupted the peace of the hitherto peaceful community.
The chiefs that instigated the youths,
as listed by Oba Ogunlade include Victoria Olayiwola, Abiodun Ogunlade, Ogo Benjamin Olabako, Oyabode Oluwatimilehin, Wale Adelegan, Ayo Olaiya, Adebo Bada, Chief Adewole and, Ojo Aloniwoye.
While the youths that caused mayhem in the community were Omolara Dada, Jimoh Osadipe, Femi Osadipe, Dayo Osadipe, Omowunmi Ofobutu, Fadele Obenbe, Soji Ogunleye, Kehinde Adegboye, Olakunle Adelegan, Idowu Adelegan, Adegbite Osadipe, Tope Adekunle and, Ade Adekunle.
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