The Police Public Relations Officer for Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, said on Tuesday that the Command had declared 15 persons wanted in connection with the violence and killings at Ire Ekiti, in the Oye Local Government Area of the state over the stoppage of Ogun Onire festival.

Abutu, who said one of the arrowheads of the violence had been arrested, added that policemen would remain in the town until normalcy returned.

Violence erupted in the community on Sunday following the decision of the monarch, the Onire of Ire Ekiti, Oba Victor Bobade, to cancel the yearly festival in line with the state government’s directive to avert the spread of COVID-19, and escalated on Monday, leading to the death of two persons, in addition to setting ablaze the monarch’s vehicles.

The police spokesperson said, “One person has been arrested and more than 15 persons have been declared wanted. They have run away, but our men are on their trail.”

Abutu said the two persons killed during the crisis were not shot as being insinuated,adding, “In fact, they were clubbed to death.”