
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has re-imposed a 12-hour curfew on the Ifon and Ilobu communities due to escalating violence between the two areas.
A statement from the state Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, announced that the curfew will run daily from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.
Governor Adeleke has also ordered an urgent meeting with the monarchs of both communities: Oba Peter Akinyooye of Ifon and Oba Ashiru Olaniyan of Ilobu. The meeting, set for Saturday, will include key stakeholders from both communities to discuss resolutions for the ongoing conflict.
Alimi further revealed that the previous 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew has been extended to 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Friday, March 21, 2025. Additionally, security teams, including the Nigerian Army, Police, and the Civil Defence Corps, will continue their round-the-clock surveillance to maintain law and order.
Adeleke has urged residents and traditional rulers to pursue peace and harmony, warning that anyone found inciting violence will face severe consequences.
The state had recently relaxed the curfew after a period of relative calm, but violence returned on Friday, resulting in the death of a former councillor from Ifon, Azeez, who was reportedly shot.
Although the circumstances of his death are unclear, a local resident confirmed he passed away at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital.
The violence also led to several homes being destroyed. Media aides to the Olufon of Ifon accused the Ilobu community of instigating the attack, while the Otun Jagun of Ilobu denied the allegations, blaming Ifon residents for the conflict.
This ongoing violence highlights the tensions that continue to plague the region, despite previous efforts to foster reconciliation.
Punch