Yuletide: Osun police bars residents from street carnival over possible mayhem

Osun State Police Command has outlawed street carnivals across the state, over fears that miscreants may hijack them to cause mayhem.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Opalola Yemisi, took to a statement made available to caution the residents against flouting the directive.

According to the Police authorities, youths in the state are warned to desist from any activities that could jeopardise peace in the state.

Opalola explained that the ban became necessary following an intelligence report that miscreants under the guise of street carnival plan to cause mayhem.

“Following our resolve to guarantee peace during the Christmas and New year celebration in the state, the Osun State police command is using this medium to advise members of the public, especially the youths that Annual Street Carnivals are prohibited for this period.

“Intelligence available to the Command indicates that miscreants under the guise of the street carnival are planning 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 carry out or celebrate their festivals.

“Parents are by this notice warned to advise their children or 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,” the Police authority stated emphatically.