A group of security personnel have been task to keep watch at the Yemoja River in the state’s Oko Olowo region under the command of Mrs. Ebbunoluwarotimi Adelesi, the commissioner of police for the Kwara State.
To avoid any potential clashes between Muslims and traditionalists in the state, Gistlover collected security personnel from the police, civil defense, state service, and military units in Kwara State are stationed overnight near the Yemoja River.
Remember how the Kwara State Police Command advised traditionalists against holding the Isese holiday celebration this year
The International Council of Ifa/Orisa Religions (ICIR) had earlier declared that the Isese festival would be held in Ilrin, but the police had stated that the security assessment did not support this.
The river served as the initial location of the traditional worshipers’ disastrous Isese holiday celebration.
Before Monday’s commemoration of World Isese Day, the operatives were dispatched to the river region to avert a potential altercation between Muslims and traditionalists.
The five local administrations that make up the Ilrin Emirate, which are controlled by Muslims, had protested the proposal to celebrate the Isese holiday.
Speaking to reporters, the CP explained that there were many security personnel present to maintain order, defend people’s lives, and safeguard their property.
“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.
