Adeleke imposes indefinite curfew on Osun LGAs over communal clashes

Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, has imposed an indefinite curfew on Irepodun and Orolu LGAs of the state.

In a statement on Sunday, Kolapo Alimi, commissioner for information and public engagements in Osun, said the curfew was declared after the communal clashes and reprisal attacks between residents of Ilobu in Irepodun town and Ifon — a town in Orolu.

The people of Ifon and Ilobu have been waging wars against one another for years over land disputes.

TheCable understands that the fresh clash stemmed from the killing of one Sodiq Alamu, a 28-year-old farmer, on Saturday who was reportedly shot by unknown gunmen.

The body of Alamu, a native of Ilobu, was said to have been found on a disputed piece of land straddling the Ilobu and Ifon communities.

Alimi said the curfew on the two communities would ensure the enforcement of law and order.

“This is to inform the public that the attention of the Osun state government has been drawn to the communal clash on land dispute between Ilobu and Ifon Communities,” the statement reads.

“Based on this, Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed that Curfew begins immediately in the two local governments: Orolu and Irepodun local governments.”

Alimi said the curfew, which began on Sunday, would commence daily from 8 p.m. till 6 a.m., adding that vehicular movement is restricted during the curfew “till further notice”.

“This is to forestall attempts of destruction of lives and properties during this period, because of the land dispute,” the commissioner said.

“Anyone caught wandering or moving around in Irepodun and Orolu local governments during the curfew period will be arrested and prosecuted appropriately.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke sued for peace between these two local governments and asked that the ethos of Peace, Love and Unity which the state is known for, be imbibed.”

In August, the two communities had traded words after the people of Ifon accused the Nigeria Army of plans to hijack the community’s land in connivance with the Ilobu community.

Ifon alleged that Taoreed Lagbaja, the chief of army staff, who is an indigene of the Ilobu community, was planning to use his position to forcefully take over their land for the construction of an intervention project for his people.

But the army denied the allegation.