Police enforce closure of Isinkan market following tensions over Akure festival

The Ondo State Government on Monday ordered the closure of Isinkan market after the city’s conventional ruler was set to defy the order of the Deji of Akure in respect of the Aheregbe Competition.

The Deji of Akure, Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, had earlier issued a directive for the closure of all markets and shops in Akure, the Ondo State capital, to watch the annual competition which holds Monday.

Solely pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to open whereas the competition was ongoing.

Nevertheless, there have been tensions and a chance of violent clashes when the Isinkan monarch, the Iralepo of Isinkan, Oluwagbemiga Olofin-Adimula, declared that the Isikan major market would open for enterprise as Isikan was not topic to the traditions of Akure.

Consistent with his announcement, merchants on the market reported for enterprise on Monday morning and commenced their typical actions.

However later within the day, safety operatives appeared on the market and ordered the closure of enterprise.

It was gathered that the operatives got here in on the order of the Ondo State Authorities.

Markets in most elements of Akure have been in full compliance with the Deji’s order, regardless that some outlets had opened within the outskirts reminiscent of Oda city and Ilekun.

The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Funmi Odunlami, stated it was not the responsibility of the police to implement market closure throughout conventional festivals.

She, nonetheless, stated the responsibility of the policemen who have been in Isinkan space was to take care of regulation and order in addition to forestall the breakdown of the peace.

The Iralepo of Isinkan later denied that the closure was in compliance with the order of the Deji of Akure in respect of the competition.

He stated the market was closed for the aim of safety, and never due to the Aheregbe Competition as was rumoured in some quarters.

“We had really given the directive that outlets at Isikan Markets be open at this time, for buying and selling and shopping for however yesterday, the Ondo state authorities referred to as an emergency assembly and we narrated the entire subject to them,” the normal ruler stated.

“The federal government gave the directive that for safety cause, and never for the competition of aheregbe, for safety causes and for peace to be maintained within the native authorities, that we should always permit our folks to remain dwelling and that was why we requested market girls to shut and go dwelling, not for the competition, on the recommendation of the state authorities.”

The Iralepo of Isinkan famous that one of the best ways out of the perennial battle between the 2 communities is to respect the tradition and custom of his forefathers.

“Aheregbe is a solemn ceremony for the Akure and oba Ile. Isikan had by no means been a neighborhood in Akure,” he asserted.

“We’re each in the identical native authorities and Isikan is a definite city from Akure as a result of now we have our personal customs and traditions completely different from the Akures.

“We’re Isinkans and our personal oba is named Iralepo. Our forefathers based this place referred to as Isinkan and we’re by no means on Akure soil and we don’t have something in widespread.

“We’re neighbours and we give respect to the Deji of Akure because the first-class Oba within the native authorities.

“Nevertheless Iralepo is the oba of Isikan and he’s the one one who can order the closure of Isikan markets on ceremonial days.

“So the one approach to keep peace without end is for us to stick to the customs of our forefathers and never by rewriting historical past.”