Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has imposed a fresh curfew on the warring communities of Ilobu and Ifon following renewed communal clashes between the towns.
Recall that in 2024, the Governor imposed a curfew on the two communities twice within two months and deployed security operatives into the town to curb incessant violence and killings in the area.
Meanwhile, the two towns rekindle their agelong crisis over land on Tuesday leading to two persons sustaining gunshot injuries and leaders from both towns accusing each other of starting the crisis.
The Ifon Progressive Union, the umbrella body of Ifon-Orolu indigenes, alleged that gunmen from Ilobu stormed the Apiponroro area, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.
Providing more details, the Secretary of the union’s Board of Trustees, Jide Akinyooye, said the latest attacks began in the early hours of Tuesday. He noted that gunshots were reported in the Odoje and Golden Gate areas of Ifon, leading to displacement as residents fled their homes in fear.
However, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Goke Ogunsola, denied the allegations, accusing Ifon gunmen of initiating the attacks on Ilobu.
“Our people living in Ganga and Apiponroro called to report that gunmen from Ifon laid siege on them. Those attacked had to protect themselves in the best way possible. On Monday, during a meeting, Olufon issued threats to us,” Ogunsola claimed.
He called on the state government to intervene decisively, adding, “We are a peace-loving community. It is Ifon that keeps attacking us.”
However, to curtail the crisis, the Governor, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi on Thursday ordered a fresh curfew between 7 pm and 7 am daily.
It reads, “Following the outbreak of another communal clash between the people of Ifon and Ilobu, the Osun state government has taken the following decisions aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the warring communities.
“That a 7 pm to 7 am curfew be imposed with immediate effect starting from today, Thursday, the 16th of Jan 2025 until further notice.
“That a contingent of all security personnel, comprising the Army, Police, and Civil Defence has been, accordingly, deployed to the warring communities to forestall further anarchy.
“All stakeholders in the areas are advised to cooperate with the State Government to resolve the issues amicably to ensure lasting peace.
“That an enlarged Committee of Stakeholders which shall consist of the representatives of the Communities, the Service Chiefs, the representatives of the State Council of Obas and other relevant bodies be immediately constituted to resolve the issue permanently.
“Finally, anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or instigating any further violence, knowingly or unknowingly, in breach of lasting peace would be made to face the full wrath of the law, via necessary prosecution, in line with the dictates of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
