Governor Ademola Adeleke has imposed 24-hour curfew on the warring communities of Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area and Ifon, headquarters of Orolu Council after a bloody clash between them which left many feared dead and properties destroyed.
The Daily Crucible reports that eight people were killed and houses set ablaze during the clash between the two communities.
Fear – stricken inhabitants of the two communities also fled their homes to safe locations outside the council areas.
The Osun State Government announced the curfew on Friday in a statement by the Commissioner of Information and Public Engagement and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.
He said: “Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed that a 24-hour Curfew begins in Orolu and Irepodun local governments housing Ifon and Ilobu communities with immediate effect. To maintain a lasting peace and order pending when the issues at hand would be amicably resolved.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke in his executive capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the State, has ordered the immediate take over of the disputed lands/areas by his administration.
“In the same vein, government has ordered that anyone, or group of persons found or seen doing one thing or the other on the disputed lands/ areas would be made to face the full wrath of the law accordingly, by Osun state government.
“Therefore, in strict compliance with the 24 hour curfew now imposed, Adeleke administration has also ordered strict restriction of both human and vehicular movements in the affected areas and communities, until otherwise directed.”
He noted operatives of the Joint Security Task Force comprising, the Army, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps have been directed by Adeleke to be on a 24 hour surveillance of the two communities with a view to ensuring lasting peace.
He commiserated with families of those who died in the wake of the recent crisis, assuring that the current administration will ensure lasting peace and order in the two local governments.
