One Dead As Adeleke Imposes Fresh Curfew On Osun Warring Communities

Following the return of hostilities between the warring communities of Ilobu and Ifon in Osun State that reportedly claimed one life, Governor Ademola Adeleke has announced another curfew from 6pm to 6am daily until lasting peace is restored.

Recall that, following the outbreak of the incessant communal clashes in the two communities, Governor Adeleke, had a few weeks ago, ordered the imposition of a curfew.

The lingering hostilities over land ownership that had claimed lives and properties in the recent past continued to bedevil the communities despite concerted efforts by the state government to halt the ugly scenario.

Residents of the feuding communities were thrown into panic again on Thursday evening when sounds of gunshots rented the air while houses were razed in the early hours of Friday.

It was further gathered that the hostilities lead to the death of a former councillor from Ifon, identified simply as Azeez, who reportedly died after being shot.

As of the time of filing this report, it was not immediately clear how the deceased met his death, but a resident of Ifon community who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Azeez was confirmed dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, on Friday.

In their defence, spokespersons of the feuding communities accused each other of being the architect behind the renewed hostilities.

Chief Adegoke Ogunsola, Otun Jagun of Ilobu in his community defence, claimed that it was the people of Ifon Orolu that launched an attack on his people on Monday and the attack dragged on till Thursday when it escalated.

He narrated how his people in Gbere Onireke, Opapa, Oke-Ebutu Ganga community in Ilobu, Apinponroro community, Olobu market, Elentere area in Ilobu and Oke-Ayepe all within Ilobu community were attacked by Ifon people.

He added that a new twist to the crisis was that Erin Osun people also joined and attacked their people, burning about 10 houses in the Oke-Ayepe and Ayedaade communities.

But the spokesperson to Olufon of Ifon, Mr Akeeb Adekunle, alleged that the crisis started rearing its ugly head since last week following a series of attacks on indigenes of Ifon by Ilobu, which were reported at the police station without any succour.

He alleged that though hostilities started since Monday, the incident escalated on Thursday night with hoodlums from Ilobu invading some of the disputed areas, especially Apinponroro burning a Primary Health Centre and residential buildings.

Adekunle further claimed that an old woman was killed in the community and her body burnt in her house adding that their people were running for their dear lives at the time of this report.

A statement by the commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi on Friday, quoted Governor Adeleke as expressing dissatisfaction over the resurgence of the crisis in the warring communities.

He said that the governor has equally directed that the joint security team comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps continue to maintain their usual 24-hour surveillance to ensure zero tolerance for any act of lawlessness.