Adeleke imposes 24-hour curfew on Osun LGAs over communal clashes

Ademola Adeleke, Osun state governor, has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Ilobu and Ifon, two communities in Orolu and Irepodun LGAs, over communal clashes caused by land disputes. 

Kolapo Alimi, commissioner for information and public enlightenment, announced the curfew on Friday. He said it became imperative to prevent further breakdown of law and order in the affected communities.

The incident reportedly led to the deaths of eight people on Thursday.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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.

“Therefore, in strict compliance with the 24-hour curfew now imposed, the Adeleke administration has also ordered strict restriction 0f both human and vehicular movements in the affected 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 and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps have been directed by his excellency to be on a 24-hour surveillance of the two communities with a view to ensuring lasting peace.”

The state government also sympathised with the bereaved families and victims of the clashes.