Isese Festival: Kwara CP, Other Security Operatives Keep Vigil At Yemoja River

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Ebbunoluwarotimi Adelesi, has led a team of security operatives to keep watch at the Yemoja River in the Oko Olowo area of the state.

Naija News gathered security men drawn from the police, civil defense, state service, and military formations in Kwara State we’re all at the Yemoja River overnight to prevent any possible clash between Muslims and traditionalists in the state.

Recall that the Kwara State Police Command warned traditionalists not to hold this year’s Isese festival celebration.

The police had said the security report did not favour holding the Isese festival in Ilọrin as initially declared by the International Council of Ifa/Orisa Religions (ICIR).

The river was the initial venue of the botched celebration of the Isese festival by the traditional worshippers.

The operatives were mobilised to the river area to prevent a possible clash between the traditionalists and the Muslims before the celebration of World Isese Day slated for Monday.

Islamic leaders had rejected the decision to celebrate the Isese festival in the Muslim-dominated five local governments that make up Ilọrin Emirate.

Addressing pressmen, the CP said the heavy presence of security operatives was to keep peace and protect the lives of the people and their properties.

“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,” the CP added.

According to Daily Trust, although the security men were on alert guiding the river, neither the traditionalists nor the Islam adherents were sighted.