The Osun State Police Command has mobilised personnel to ensure maximum security for the grand finale of the Osun-Osogbo Festival scheduled for Friday.
(Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, met with the festival organisers and assured them of a safe and peaceful celebration.
According to Ojelabi, the police chief has instructed all Area Commanders to position tactical units for the event’s climax.
“Tactical squads, mobile units and other specialised teams are fully prepared for deployment. Every necessary security arrangement has been made, and with God’s grace, we expect a smooth and incident-free festival this year,” he stated.
The Osun-Osogbo Festival, which has been celebrated for centuries, takes place annually at the sacred grove on the outskirts of Osogbo between July and August. It is regarded as one of the few remaining sacred forests along the fringes of Yoruba cities before urban expansion.
Recognised for its cultural and historical importance, the Sacred Grove was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. For the people of Osogbo, the festival serves as a traditional purification of the town and a cultural homecoming that reconnects them with their ancestors and the founders of the Osogbo Kingdom.