Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has re-imposed a 12-hour curfew on the crisis-ridden communities of Ifon and Ilobu following a fresh outbreak of violent clashes.
In a statement on Friday, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, announced that the curfew would now run from 6 pm to 6 am daily until further notice.
The governor had initially relaxed the restrictions after observing a return to normalcy, but renewed hostilities have forced the state government to take stricter measures.
Governor Adeleke has also directed a joint security team comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to maintain 24-hour surveillance in the troubled areas to prevent further escalation of violence.
“To this end, the governor has directed that the initial 10 pm to 4 am curfew now be extended to 6 pm to 6 am, effective today, Friday, 21st March 2025, until further notice,” Alimi stated.
Additionally, an emergency meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, March 22, 2025, to find a lasting solution to the crisis. The meeting will involve key stakeholders, including the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Oluwole Akinyooye, and the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan.
Governor Adeleke called on the indigenes and traditional rulers of both communities to embrace peace, warning that anyone found instigating violence or fueling the conflict would face severe consequences.
“The government will not tolerate any act of lawlessness. Anyone or group found aiding and abetting the pogrom will be dealt with accordingly,” the governor warned.
Despite previous government interventions, tensions flared again on Friday, leading to the reported death of a former councillor from Ifon, identified simply as Azeez. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, but sources revealed that he was shot and later confirmed dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
A resident of Ifon, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the killing, saying, “Azeez was rushed to the teaching hospital after being shot, but he did not survive.”
The violence also saw several houses set ablaze in the affected communities.
As tensions escalate, both communities have traded blame over the renewed hostilities.
Speaking on the incident, Yusuf Adekunle, media aide to the Olufon of Ifon, accused Ilobu residents of orchestrating the attack stating, “Ilobu people are responsible for this crisis. They launched the attack that led to this bloodshed.”
However, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunsola, dismissed the claim, insisting that Ifon residents were the aggressors.
“It was the Ifon people who first launched an attack on our residents. Many of our people sustained injuries as a result of their actions,” Ogunsola countered.
The Osun State Government has vowed to take decisive action to prevent further bloodshed, emphasizing that all parties must work together to find a peaceful resolution. Security forces remain on high alert as the situation continues to develop.
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