Christmas: Police ban street carnival in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Osun State Police Command has banned all forms of street carnival during the yuletide period.

A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yemisi Opalola in Osogbo on Thursday advised parents/guardians to warn their children/wards to desist from any act that could jeopardize the peace of this season. 

The statement reads: “Intelligence availed the Command suggests that miscreants under the guise of street carnival plans to carry out mayhem, as such the Command is using this forum to inform the general public that streets carnival will not be tolerated in whatever form or guise. 

“Therefore, all organizers of carnivals are enjoined to hire halls or use gated compounds to carryout/celebrate their festival.

“Parents/guardians are equally warned to advise their children/wards to desist from any act that could jeopardize the peace of this season.

“Hence anyone caught or found wanting will be made to face the full wrath of the law. Good people of the State are enjoined to go about their legitimate/lawful business/celebration peacefully.”

In a related development, the state Commander of the Western Security Agency Network, codenamed Amotekun, Brig-Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi (rtd), has charged residents of the state to take charge of the security of their environment during the festive period.

Adewinmbu stated this in a statement by his Personal Assistant, Isaac Oluwasegun.

He also called on residents to assist security agencies with reasonable intelligence information to tackle any potential security threat in the state.

While advising them to celebrate the festivals moderately, Adewinmbi urged them to avoid using fireworks and report suspicious movements and security threats to nearest security outfit.