Youths attack Ondo monarch, beat wife over festival

Ilara Mokin community  in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State was thrown into pandemonium on Friday following the attack on the palace of the traditional ruler of the town by some irate youths .

Oba Aderemi Adefehinti was said to have been at loggerheads with his people following his alleged refusal to participate  in some traditional festivals in the community.

The traditional ruler,  who has been on the throne since 1998,  was alleged to have stopped participating in the traditional festivals because he had allegedly become a Christian.

According to an eyewitness,   trouble started  when the monarch allegedly did not show up for the New Yam Festival to perform some rites  in the annual event.

A source  said, “The youths were infuriated when the traditional ruler failed to come to the venue of  the festival to perform some rites. So, they attacked him in the palace with stones, forcing him to  escape  from  the palace.”

However, the eyewitness said the monarch’s wife was unlucky as she was allegedly  beaten by the angry youths. She was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

Spokesperson for the state police command in the state,  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.”