…Adeleke summons kings of warring communities, imposes curfew
Three people, including a former councillor identified as Azeez, have reportedly been killed, while 30 others sustained gunshot injuries in a renewed communal clash between Ifon and Ilobu communities in Osun State over a protracted land dispute.
The Nation recalls that Ifon, headquarters of Orolu Local Government, and Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government, have been at loggerheads over the land tussle, a conflict that has previously led to deaths, injuries, and property destruction by arsonists.
In response to the escalating violence, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke imposed curfews intermittently over the past 18 months due to eight separate clashes.
He also constituted a 100-member peace panel, chaired by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and Comrade Waheed Lawal, to broker lasting peace. On March 2, 2025, Adeleke relaxed the dusk-to-dawn curfew to between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Despite these efforts, tensions flared again on Monday when leaders of the two communities reportedly clashed over the disputed land. By early Friday, scores of houses in both communities were set ablaze, displacing women and children.
When The Nation visited the boundary between the two warring towns, residents were seen fleeing their homes and relocating toward nearby areas, including Okini and Agunbelewo.
Reacting to the latest violence, Akeeb Adekunle, spokesperson for the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Ilufemiloye, accused Ilobu residents of launching repeated attacks.
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“They have been attacking us since Monday. Despite our reports to the police, the attacks continued, and they even shot at law enforcement officers. We have written petitions to Governor Adeleke, urging him to intervene and resolve the matter peacefully,” Adekunle alleged.
As tensions remain high, community members and state authorities continue efforts to prevent further bloodshed.
“Yesterday, they attacked us again, we had series of gunshots, they killed three of our people, one of them was razed inside her house, a man was hacked to death while an ex-councilor, Azeez was shot dead by Ilobu people. They even burnt government-owned primary health care in the Akinponroro area.”
Speaking with the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola he denied the allegations noting Ifon people attacked us first.
He explained that, “Since Tuesday, they have been attacking our people on their farmlands including Agbere Onireke and Opapa. They attacked a chief with an attempt to kidnap him, but he was rescued by farmers around.
“On Wednesday, they went to a farm at Gbere to attack one Nureni and Oseni Saluwudeen, they burnt down two motorcycles which will reported at the police station in Ilobu.”
He added that “Yesterday, in the evening they went to a place called Oke-Ekutu, they destroyed all the houses and set one on fire. They went to Akipanroro, Ganga and Oke-Ayepe, they started burning and shooting our people. Mostly children and women were caught in this attack, they caught us unaware.
“Our children and women are displaced now, we are extracting bullets in the palace through local means, they have brought about 30 to palace for us to remove the bullets in their body, they are still bringing more. Children and women are mostly affected.”
When the spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, SP Akeem Adeola was contacted, he said “In respect to resumption of hostilities in Ilobu and Ifon, the Osun State Command has deployed men to restore peace and order.”
Also, the Osun State Government imposed dusk to dawn curfew on the communities as Governor Adeleke summoned their kings and other stakeholders.
A statement by the government through the Commissioner of Information, Kolapo Alimi said “Following a resurgence of the crisis between the warring communities of Ilobu and Ifon, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, announced a new curfew time frame from 6 PM to 6 AM daily until lasting peace is restored.
According to him “His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke, has expressed unhappiness and dissatisfaction with the breakout of fresh communal crises in Ilobu and Ifon.
“To this end, the Governor has directed that the initial 10PM to 4AM curfew now be extended to 6PM to 6AM, effective today, Friday, 21st March 2025, until further notice.
“Mr. 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.
“In addition, the Governor has directed that an immediate stakeholders’ meeting, including the Olufon of Ifon, HRM Oba Peter Oluwole Akinyooye, HRM Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, the Olobu of Ilobu, and other stakeholders from both communities, be held tomorrow, Saturday, 22nd March 2025, to discuss further resolutions of the conflict.
“Finally, His Excellency urges all sons and daughters of the two communities, as well as their traditional rulers, to follow the path of peace and harmonious co-existence. Anyone or group of persons found aiding and abetting the pogrom will be dealt with accordingly.“