There was pandemonium in Igbo-Ora, Ibarapa area of Oyo State, on Saturday, when a group of youths blocked the convoy of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, as he attempted to leave the venue of the yearly World Twin Festival held in the town.

The situation reportedly turned chaotic, forcing security operatives attached to the monarch to fire warning shots and tear gas into the air to disperse the crowd and clear the route for his convoy.

Sources told The Guardian that the confrontation began when the youths surrounded the royal convoy, demanding money from the monarch before allowing him to depart. Security agents initially tried to calm the situation, but the crowd grew larger, prompting a more forceful response.

Videos shared on social media showed a tense atmosphere as warning shots echoed and people fled in panic. One eyewitness was heard saying, “They have locked the gate against the Alaafin. They don’t want him to go.”

A post on X (formerly Twitter) also described the scene as a “scary moment in Igbo-Ora,” claiming that the youths blocked the Alaafin’s convoy, prompting his security team to fire shots into the air to disperse them.

Confirming the incident, Mr Bode Durojaiye, Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, stated that no live bullets were fired during the episode.

“They are street urchins who wanted to collect money from the king. They were forceful. The security appealed to them but they went wild. Security agents could not open their eyes and allow urchins to rough-handle the monarch. It is better imagined than experienced. The security agents, therefore, fired canisters of tear gas to scare them. No live bullet was shot at anybody,” Durojaiye explained.

He advised residents to maintain decorum during public events, adding that those seeking assistance from traditional rulers should do so in a peaceful and respectful manner.