The Osun State Government on Friday, October 6, ordered the commencement of a 24-hour curfew with immediate effect in the two warring communities of Ifon and Ilobu.
A statement by Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, said that the curfew was to prevent further breakdown of law and order in the two peaceful communities.
The Commissioner also said the Governor imposed the curfew to stop the further loss of lives and properties and prevent the escalation of the crisis.
The statement further read, “To maintain lasting peace and order pending when the issues at hand would be amicably resolved, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in his executive capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the State, has ordered the immediate takeover of the disputed lands/areas by his administration.
“In the same vein, the government has ordered that anyone or group of persons found or seen doing one thing or the other on the disputed lands/areas would be made to face the full wrath of the law accordingly by the Osun State Government.
“Therefore, in strict compliance with the 24-hour curfew now imposed, the Adeleke administration has also ordered strict restriction of both human and vehicular movements in the affected areas and communities, until otherwise directed by His Excellency, the State Governor and the Chief Security Officer of Osun State.
“Accordingly, officers of the Joint Security Task Force comprising the Nigerian Army, Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been directed by His Excellency to be on a 24-hour surveillance of the two communities to ensure a lasting peace.”
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the immediate past governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Friday, appealed to the indigenes of the communities involved in the bloody clash to avoid violence.
Oba Ogunwusi said, “Ifon and Ilobu people, I am appealing to you in the name of God from the throne of Oduduwa. We are all the same, one race.
“Please, let us stop the killings and destruction of property. The youths of these communities, I beg you with this throne; we came from this throne, so we are all the same. I use this throne to beg you, please, don’t let it escalate further, be your brothers’ keeper. God bless you. Why are we killing ourselves and destroying each other’s property? Let us stop the killings.”
In a statement by his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, Oyetola described peace as indispensable to human existence.
“With my sojourn in life, I have come to realize that nothing good can come from communal clashes and as such, every being must do everything humanly possible to forestall fights of any nature. It is quite unfortunate and shocking to receive the news of clashes between two of our notable towns (Ilobu and Ifon-Osun) in the state,” the statement read.
