Curbing Unending Osun Communal Crisis

Although communal crisis is not alien to Nigerians, the unending communal crisis in Osun has continued to take its toll on lives and property.

Victims of the clashes ravaging some communities in Osun State have called on well- meaning Nigerians and international organisations to come to their aid following the loss of their means of livelihood to the crises.

The wanton destruction of valuable properties such as houses, shops, farms, market stalls among others in Ilobu and Erin communities in Irepodun local government, Ifon Osun in Orolu local government, Iloba, Oloosape, Egbedi in Egbedore local government, Esa-Oke and Ido-Ayegunle in Obokun local government have rendered thousands of people homeless.

The Olua of Oloosape, Oba Hassan Adeyemo disclosed to LEADERSHIP that no fewer than 3,000 farmers from Iloba and Oloosape could no longer gain access to their farms following alleged siege laid on their farmland by residents of their neighbouring Egbedi Community.

He disclosed that the entire Iloba community another neighbouring community has been allegedly sacked by the same Egbedi community while the Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez blamed the communal feud that has denied thousands of victims of survival on the neighbouring communities.

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In another development, Alhaji Humani Adebayo whose shop was among numerous ones burnt down in Ilobu market due to communal clashes told LEADERSHIP in tears that she has been reduced to a ‘walking-corpse’ because she lost everything she had to the lingering crises among Ilobu, Erin and Ifon Osun communities.

She begged philanthropic organisations both at home and at international level, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), relevant government agencies at all levels and well- meaning Nigerians to assist her and others to survive.

Also, Mr Musibau Adesoji who lost his house in Erin Osun to the crisis said he obtained a loan from cooperative society recently to give the building a facelift and make it more conducive for habitation only to watch the entire building burnt down helplessly.

He claimed that his rented shop located in another building was equally razed adding that he, who was a landlord, had suddenly turned to a destitute begging for daily food since then.

Meanwhile, the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Akanbi in Obokun local government area of the state in a similar scenario lamented the inability of his subjects that are farmers to access their farms due to communal dispute between Esa-Oke and Ido-Ayegunle.

The monarch pleaded with the state government to resolve the dispute so that normalcy could return to the communities to boost the socioeconomic development of the area.