The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osun communities

  • JUST IN: Heavy security as Osun communities renew clash, two injured 

    JUST IN: Heavy security as Osun communities renew clash, two injured 

    No fewer than two people were injured on Tuesday as the Ilobu and Ifon Orolu communities in Osun state renewed their long-standing clash over a disputed land.

    The Nation recall that the conflict has previously claimed about 40 lives and led to significant property destruction. 

    Tensions reignited after the Ifon community issued a 14-day ultimatum on Friday, demanding that Ilobu residents vacate the contested area. 

    The ultimatum cited a declaration by Governor Ademola Adeleke, designating the disputed land as a buffer zone.

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    In a statement on Tuesday, the Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union (IPU) Secretary, Prince Jide Akinyooye, revealed that the attack occurred in the early hours, displacing residents in the Odoje and Golden Gate areas of Ifon. 

    He added: “Two people sustained gunshot injuries,” and called on the Osun State Government to intervene and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    However, Chief Leke Ogunsola, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, alleged that gunmen from Ifon-Osun invaded the Ganga Akinpororo community near Ilobu’s Golden Gate around noon.

    “They started destroying properties at the area and some people ran away for their own lives. While some properties owners came out to defend their properties. 

    “The gunmen from Ifon-Osun are mostly war machinery. I want to commend the security operatives most especially the police, Nigerian Army, and civil defense, they responded on time and they are on ground now.”

    He appealed to security agencies not to withdraw their men who are on ground to prevent any other attacks.

  • Osun communities threaten fresh war over disputed land

    Osun communities threaten fresh war over disputed land

    A crisis is brewing between the Ifon community, Orolu Local Government Area, and Ilobu town in the Irepodun council area as they threaten a fresh war over a claim on disputed land that Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared a buffer zone.

    The Nation recalled that the two communities had clashed in 2023 and 2024 aside from past clashes during which over 40 people including a Divisional Police Officer(DPO) were killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed in the two local government areas.

    Recently, the Ifon community through Ifon Orolu Progressive Union(IPU) in a complaint letter addressed to Adeleke alleged that the Ilobu community invaded the disputed land, sold some portions, and destroyed farmlands at Opapa and Igbo Imin-Esin areas.

    IPU in a letter jointly signed by its President and Secretary; Mohammed Oyedeji and Prince Jide Akinyooye said: “We want to state that His Royal Majesty, Oba Alayeluwa Peter Oluwole Ipadeola Akinyooye III, the Aremo-Obatala of the Universe and Olufon of Ifon-Orolu Kingdom is the one that has been managing this crisis by preventing the affected families to protect their properties.

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    “We want your administration to understand that this unfortunate situation and lack of respect for constituted authority by the people of Ilobu Community may lead to a renewed crisis if concrete action is not taken within the next 14 days.”

    Responding to the allegations, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola denied the allegations, claiming that the Ilobu community is the owner of the land mentioned by the Ifon community.

    His words: “We are not aware of any buffer zone. In the land they are talking about, there is no place called Igbo Imin Esin on their land, Opapa is within Ilobu, so if they have valid court papers on that land they should bring them out.

    “We have won up to the Court of Appeal, we have the judgment and they are aware of it. Where they are calling Igbo Imin-Esin is known as Oke-Ekutu, where they killed Sikiru Onaolapo. They are still looking for some of them that did that and they still want to start another problem. If they are ready for a communal clash, we are ready too, they should bring guns again, and they will meet fire there.”

  • Kingship tussle rocks Osun communities

    Kingship tussle rocks Osun communities

    Communal clash is looming at Itaakun in Irewole Local Government of Osun State, over alleged imposition of a monarch on the community.

    Four ruling houses, namely Metiku, Falade, Ademuyiwa and Atewe have warned officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs against disregard for law, custom and tradition concerning chieftaincy declaration of the town.

    Addressing reporters yesterday on behalf of the ruling houses in Osogbo, Prince Adeoye Dairo cautioned against ignoring chieftaincy declaration to impose a monarch on the town and ignore court orders.

    He said such action could degenerate into war in the town, which would result in loss of lives and property; ‘’hence government must act responsibly to forestall breakdown of law and order.’’

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    Dairo added: “We have presented our agitations to the concerned parties, and we have filed our matter before the court. What we are waiting for is the outcome.

    “These people have pushed us to embark on war, but as law-abiding citizens, we are trying to avoid it. We only know the beginning of a war; nobody knows the end or who it may consume. This is why we are calling on the Osun State Government to caution officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters not to impose a king on our community.

    “We are calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke to act promptly before the action of officials of the ministry push the community into a full-fledged war. We will not hesitate to fight for our cause. We don’t know the interest of the officials in our town to impose who is not a member of any ruling house on us.”

    Efforts to get reaction from the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Dosu Babatunde, were not successful, as he did not respond to phone calls and failed to respond to text and what ‘Sapp messages sent to him.