The Commissioner of Police in KWARA State, CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi has banned proposed Isese Day in Ilorin.
CP Adelesi gave this directive on Tuesday via a statement issued by KWARA Police Command Spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi.
The statement read in part: ” Vigilante, local hunters, community policing members, and the leadership of the traditional worshippers in Kwara, along with some of their leaders from adjoining states, have also been dialogued with and made to understand that the intelligence available to the Police Command does not favor the kind of celebrations being planned by one of the religious sects in the state; they have been advised to relocate their celebration to another state pending a favorable security situation in the state.”
She also hinted on the plan to commence aggressive stop and search, motorized and foot patrols on a 24-hour basis.
“To this end, the CP is using this medium to put the good people of Kwara State on notice of the special security operation and advise the people not to panic or be apprehensive when confronted with the police men on the assignment but to comport themselves and submit themselves for body and vehicular searches whenever they are asked to do so. The officers deployed for the assignment have been trained and warned to respect the rights of the citizens in the process of carrying out their duties.”
“The Command warns would-be lawbreakers in whatever guise and nomenclature to steer clear of Kwara State, as anyone found in any manner constituting himself or herself a security threat would be arrested and prosecuted.”
Isese Day is a holiday celebrated in honor of the ancient Yoruba people of Nigeria. It is a time for remembering the past and celebrating the Yoruba culture through music, dance, and other traditional activities
It is a public holiday in Osun, the home of all Yoruba’s and expected to escalate to wherever Yorubas are based. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
It is usually celebrated on August 20 every year, as a day for traditional worshipers to celebrate their deities.
Among the several Isese festivals celebrated majorly by the Yorubas are Eyo, Igogo, Ojude Oba, Olojo, Oro, and Sango festivals.
The Isese Day is a regional public holiday observed by Nigerian states like Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Kogi states to give a sense of belonging to adherents of traditional religions.
Colour white, among other colours like red, and black is usually the colour of the attires worn by adherents to the festivals.
