Posted by Ikare-Akoko, the seat of the state’s Akoko North East Local Government Area, will be under a 24-hour curfew, according to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.
The governor’s order from last Thursday states that the curfew is effective right away throughout the neighborhood.
The curfew became necessary as a result of a violent altercation that broke out in the neighborhood during the New Year’s carnival, according to a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde.
When some youngsters started fighting on Wednesday over the location of the carnival in the Okoja quarters, a crisis engulfed the neighborhood.
While encouraging the state’s security services to guarantee maximum curfew enforcement, Akeredolu said the two local traditional rulers must warn their subjects that anyone found disobeying the order will face consequences.
“This follows the intensified violent fight in the town since Tuesday, which has persisted despite the meeting convened by Government and the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, and Owa Ale of Iyometa, Oba Adeleke Adegbite to control their people,” the statement says.
Security agencies have been told to make sure that the order is strictly followed, and this comes as investigations are already underway to determine the true cause(s) of the violent fight.
For emphasis, any unauthorized human movement and activity are now prohibited on Ikare Akoko till further notice.