Three killed in Osun boundary conflict

No fewer than three people were feared killed on Friday in bloody clashes involving hoodlums from Ifon and Ilobu communities in Osun State.

The clashes, fuelled by boundary disputes, also led to burning of houses and other property, forcing many people living close to the disputed areas to flee to safer near-by communities.

In some videos obtained from reliable sources close to the scene of the mayhem, many people were seen moving towards Osogbo, the state capital.

The media aide to Olufon of Ifon, Yusuf Adekunle, who accused Ilobu community of sponsoring the attack, said three people were killed in Ifon.

Adekunle said, “So far, three people were killed. Ex councillor, Azeez was shot dead, a man was beheaded and one woman was locked in a house set ablaze by the Ilobu hoodlums.

“Many houses were razed in Ifon and we learnt Ilobu people are also attacking Erin Osun people now. We are also hearing that machineries have been brought to attack us. We have presence of security men now but we don’t know what we happen next.”

The allegation was, however, dismissed by the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunsola, who said Ifon indigenes launched attacks on the residents of the town, during which many people were injured.

“As I am talking to you, Erin people are attacking Ayedaade community in Ilobu. They have been attacking the area since morning and no security operative came to our aid,” Ogunsola said.

Asked for the casualty figure on the side of Ilobu, Ogunsola said “I don’t have the number of casualties now but I know people died.

“Our demand is that security agents should be drafted to these communities because a lot of things have been destroyed in Olobu market, Idi-Ire and Akinponroro. All the big stores in Olobu market have been burnt down completely by people from Ifon Osun.”

Earlier, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, re-imposed 12-hour curfew on Ifon and Ilobu communities, following resurgence of the violent clashes between the two communities.

A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, stated that the re-imposed curfew started from 6pm and ends by 6am daily till further notice.

The government had recently relaxed the curfew when normalcy returned to the two communities.

However, hostilities returned to the area on Friday leading to the death of a former councilor from Ifon, identified simply as Azeez, who reportedly died after being shot.

In a move to prevent further escalation, Adeleke has also directed that an immediate meeting involving Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Akinyooye, and Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, the Olobu of Ilobu, alongside other stakeholders from both communities, would be held on Saturday (today) to discuss further resolutions of the conflict.

Adeleke urged indigenes of the two communities, as well as, their traditional rulers, to follow the path of peace and harmonious co-existence, warning that anyone or group of persons found aiding and abetting the pogrom will be dealt with.

On efforts to return peace to the affected areas, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer for Osun State Command, Adeola Adeoye, said policemen had been deployed to restore peace and order.”