The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has re-imposed a 12-hour curfew on Ifon and Ilobu communities following the resurgence of violent clashes between the two communities.
A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, on Friday stated that the re-imposed curfew starts at 6 pm and ends by 6 am daily till further notice.
Alimi said Adeleke has also directed that an immediate meeting that would be attended by the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Akinyooye, and Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, the Olobu of Ilobu, alongside other stakeholders from both communities, be held on Saturday to discuss further resolutions of the conflict.
“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.
“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,” Alimi said.
Adeleke subsequently urged indigenes of the two communities and 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 would be dealt with.
The government had recently relaxed the curfew it imposed on the two communities, having observed a return to normalcy in the relationship between the two towns.
However, hostilities returned to the area on Friday, leading to the death of a former councillor from Ifon, identified simply as Azeez, who reportedly died after being shot.
It was not immediately clear how the deceased met his death, but a resident of Ifon, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Azeez was confirmed dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, early on Friday.
Also, during the bloody clashes involving the communities, several houses were reportedly razed.
Media aide to Olufon of Ifon, Yusuf Adekunle, confirmed the incident and accused the Ilobu community of sponsoring the attack.
The allegation was, however, dismissed by the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunsola, who said Ifon people launched attacks on the residents of the town, during which many people were injured.
