The fragile peace between the warring Ifon and Ilobu communities in Osun State was shattered yesterday as two individuals were allegedly shot in a renewed hostility over a boundary dispute.
The two communities have been embroiled in clashes over a large expanse of land, leading to the deaths of about 20 people and the destruction of farmlands and property in October 2023 and early 2024.
In a statement yesterday, the National Secretary of Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union (IPU), Prince Jide Akinyooye, alleged that gunmen from Ilobu attacked Odoje and Golden Gate areas in Ifon, shooting two residents and displacing many others.
Akinyooye said: “While two people sustained gunshot injuries, this brazen disregard for human life and the directives of the Osun State government and security agencies is unacceptable.
“Despite the efforts of the Osun State government to resolve the land dispute at the Opapa buffer zone, the Ilobu community has continued to engage in violent clashes, putting the lives of innocent people at risk.
“We urge the Osun State government to take immediate action to address this situation and ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are brought to justice.
“We want to put it on record that, despite our people in the affected areas still being under siege, the Olufon of Ifon-Orolu, Oba Peter Oluwole Ipadeola, has continued to maintain that his subjects should not take the law into their own hands.”
However, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola, refuted Akinyooye’s claims, accusing Ifon-Orolu residents of reigniting the crisis by attacking the Ganga Akinpororo community near Golden Gate in Ilobu, destroying property, and forcing residents to flee.
Ogunsola said: “At about 12:00 p.m., gunmen from the Ifon-Osun community invaded Akinpororo. Some property owners came out to defend their possessions.
“I don’t have any other information apart from the fact that gunmen from Ifon-Osun, mostly war mercenaries, came shooting heavily, causing people to flee. Some courageous individuals stayed back to defend their property.
“I want to commend the security operatives, especially the Police, Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). They responded promptly, and they are now maintaining normalcy on the ground.
“I appeal to the security agencies not to withdraw their personnel, as their presence is crucial in preventing further attacks.”
He alleged: “Yesterday, the deputy governor called us to a peace meeting. However, on Friday, Ifon-Osun issued a threat signed by Jide Akinyooye, giving the state government and the Ilobu community a 14-day ultimatum to vacate a parcel of land or face a communal clash.”
