Adeleke Imposes 24-hr Curfew On Osun Warring Communities

Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has extended the curfew he earlier imposed on Ilobu, Ifon Orolu and Erin Osun communities to 24 hours following the escalation of the crisis in the warring communities over land ownership.

Despite the 6 pm to 6 am curfew earlier imposed on the communities, sporadic guns continued to rent the air just as wanton destruction of properties continued in the communities.

The governor has further directed all security agencies including the military, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration, NDLEA, Amotekun, among others to extend their security surveillance to the communities and ensure strict compliance to the curfew until peace is restored.

Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a statement said Governor Adeleke expressed dissatisfaction over the resurgence of the crisis.

Meanwhile, the Ilobu community has called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi to come to their aid over incessant attacks from their neighbouring communities.

National President of Ilobu Descendant Union (IDU), Pastor Olufemi Salako, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP on Saturday, said many people have been killed, several injured and properties worth over N2billion destroyed to the violence.

The statement read in part, “It is with heavy hearts and sorrow that we the people of Ilobu, headquarters or Irepodun local government in Osun State call on the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Director of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi to come to our aid as the incessant attacks from our neighbouring communities are becoming non-stop.

“On Friday morning, we woke up to sporadic gunshots from the people of Ifon-Osun and Erin-Osun Communities. Greater parts of Ilobu Community at Ganga, Idire, Apiponroro, Olobu market, Ayedaade were seriously invaded, houses and shops were burnt down and people of Ilobu were attacked with guns.

“Very many people suffered gunshots wounds in the process. Children, women and the aged were seriously affected and thousands of people displaced from their homes and countless business outfits completely destroyed.

“Unfortunately, the Erin-Osun community has also joined from behind, confirming it is a pre-planned and pre-meditated attacks on Ilobu Community. So, this time around, it is not about Ifon and Ilobu fighting over disputed land, it is about the determination of Ifon-Osun and Erin-Osun Communities to completely exterminate Ilobu Community.

“The ongoing carnage and killing (it has not stopped), which has claimed several lives, displaced over 100,000 people and destroyed properties worth over N2billion, started on Thursday evening. The attackers became emboldened as our calls to the Osun State Government, Osun State Commissioner of Police and the Osun Security Network fell on deaf ears. The attacks and intrusion went for over 15 hours unchallenged.

“It may interest the whole world to know that this is the eighth time our community has come under violent attacks in the last 18 months and there seem not to end in sight. We have lost no fewer than 30 souls within this period, with over 100 houses burnt to ashes.”

He also called for succor from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the affected individuals and businesses.