Following the escalation of the crisis between the warring communities of Ilobu and Ifon, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved that the curfew be extended to Erin-Osun town, a neighbouring community, while slamming a 24-hour daily curfew on the three towns.
This was disclosed by two statements separately issued and signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, and the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Saturday.
According to Alimi, the governor directed all security agencies such as the military, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration, NDLEA, and Amotekun, among others, to extend their security surveillance to the affected communities.
“All the security agencies are to ensure strict compliance with the curfew, which is now 24 hours daily until peace is restored.”
The imposed curfew was necessary to prevent the crisis from degenerating.
Alimi was quoted in the statement as expressing dissatisfaction over the resurgence of the crisis in the warring communities, adding that the curfew on Ifon-Ilobu communities has now been extended to the Erin-Osun community, starting from Saturday until further notice.
Rasheed, in his statement, disclosed that Governor Adeleke assured the people of Ilobu and Ifon communities that speedy conflict resolution steps are being taken to restore peace, even as he directed the emergency services agency to activate its operations.
Responding to a Save Our Soul message from the people of Ilobu and Ifon, Governor Adeleke said his administration has re-strategised on resolving the conflict with multiple peacebuilding options which are being unveiled and implemented.
“I assure the people of Ilobu and Ifon that I am committed to securing their lives and properties. I have updated the presidency on developments in the state. We are on top of the situation,” the governor was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, he informed members of the public that old videos of communal conflicts in some parts of Osun State are being circulated by opposition elements to spread false pictures of insecurity in the state.
“While the ongoing conflict is regrettable and while all hands are on deck to stop the violence, we inform the public to take note of the activities of fake news merchants who are digging up old videos to discredit the state government.
“The videos being circulated of violence in other towns and villages in Osun are fake news and should be disregarded by the members of the public.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke has stepped up conflict de-escalation moves on the Ifon-Ilobu conflict, imposing a 24-hour curfew, mobilising a joint security task force, and hosting a peace deal between the two warring communities,” the statement read.
A former councillor under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party had reportedly been killed in the crisis that occurred on Friday, as many houses and properties were destroyed over the land boundary crisis.
