Yam festival: Angry youths on rampage over refusal of monarch to attend festival

Irate youths from Ilara, in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State on Friday went on rampage over the refusal of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Aderemi Adefehinti, to participate in the traditional festivals of the town.

The youth who ordered the traditional ruler to vacate the traditional stool over his claim to have embraced Christianity and his refusal to participate in traditional festivals of the town.

The agrarian community was thrown into pandemonium as the irate youths frowned over the decision of the monarch to stop participating in the traditional festivals because he has allegedly embraced Christ and ‘born again’.

According to an eyewitness, trouble started on Friday when Oba Adefehinti failed to show up for the New Yam Festival holding in the town, and his failure to perform his normal royal function in the annual festival.

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The eyewitness said, ” The youths were infuriated when the Kabiyesi failed to come to the venue of the New Yam Festival to perform some rites. So they attacked him in the palace, they started stoning the palace. He had to escape through the exit door of the palace. ”

The eyewitness, however, said the monarch’s wife, Mrs Adefehinti was unlucky as she was beaten mercilessly by the angry youth and she was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident but said the monarch and his wife were safe.

He said, ” It was a minor disagreement between the monarch and his subjects and I want to tell you that normalcy has returned to the community now. “