Adeleke imposes curfew on two Osun LGAs over communal clash

Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Ifon and Ilobu communities in Orolu and Irepodun LGAs of the state.

The two communities have reportedly been at loggerheads since 2023 over a land dispute.

Kolapo Alimi, the commissioner for information and public enlightenment in Osun, said in a statement issued on Thursday that the curfew was due to the fresh outbreak of clash between the two communities.

“Sequel to an outbreak of yet another communal misunderstanding between Ifon and Ilobu communities, the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered that a curfew be imposed on the two warring communities with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

“To forestall further escalation of the crisis, the governor has approved that a 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew be imposed.”

The commissioner noted that the state government has deployed security operatives to prevent further anarchy in the communities.

Alimi said the state government will constitute a committee of stakeholders made up of representatives of the communities, heads of security agencies, the council of Obas, and other relevant bodies to resolve the issue permanently.

He called on the indigenes of the two communities to cooperate with the state government towards finding a lasting solution to the conflict.

The commissioner warned that “anyone caught instigating further violence, knowingly or unknowingly, would be made to face the full wrath of the law”.