Kwara Police Commissioner Leads Security Team To Monitor Yemoja River Amidst Festival Tensions

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Ebbunoluwarotimi Adelesi, has taken the initiative to oversee security operations at Yemoja River within the Oko Olowo vicinity of the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

A collaborative effort of security personnel drawn from the police, civil defense, state service, and military units in Kwara State maintained vigilance overnight at the Yemoja River, aimed at averting potential conflicts between traditionalists and Muslims in the region.

This precautionary measure was enacted following the decision by the Kwara State Police Command to discourage traditionalists from conducting this year’s Isese festival celebration….CONTINUE READING

The police explained that unfavorable security reports warranted the cancellation of the Isese festival initially planned to occur in Ilọrin, as declared by the International Council of Ifa/Orisa Religions (ICIR).

The Yemoja River had previously been designated as the location for the now-aborted Isese festival celebration by traditional worshippers.

In anticipation of a possible confrontation between traditionalists and Muslims ahead of the World Isese Day celebration scheduled for Monday, security operatives were deployed to the river area.

The contentious decision to hold the Isese festival in the Muslim-majority five local governments constituting the Ilọrin Emirate was met with resistance from Islamic leaders.

Despite the security presence at the river, neither the traditionalists nor the Muslim adherents were reportedly observed, according to Daily Trust.

Commissioner Adelesi addressed the media, emphasizing the role of security personnel in maintaining peace and safeguarding lives and property.

She stated, “The security men are here to maintain peace; we are not here to deprive anyone of his or her fundamental human rights.

They have been drafted to this place since yesterday to protect the people of the state. We have to be at alert as a result of what the two sides are saying. We cannot allow the security and peace of the state to be breached. Kwara State is the state of harmony.”