Fresh Details Emerge On Osun Communal Clash As Eight People Die

The fresh communal clash between the residents of Ilobu and Ifon communities of Osun State on Thursday, October 5, 2023, claimed no fewer than eight lives, Naija News has learned.

It was reported that the casualties were the result of stray bullets fired by security personnel who were deployed to the affected areas in response to the resumption of hostilities.

The PUNCH said in its report that both Ilobu and Ifon were inaccessible on Thursday after the chaotic incident started. Even some of the security operatives, according to the media, were forced to remain stationed at the entrances of the two communities.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the Ilobu community about the happening, the Otun-Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola, said that four lives, including that of an infant, had been lost during the crisis in their town.

Furthermore, he expressed his dismay at the reluctance of the deployed security agents to enter the affected areas within the two communities.

“The government intervention is not enough because of security agencies that were drafted to the area stationed themselves at Ojutu bridge. They didn’t enter the town where the clashes happened. So far, from the Ilobu community, we have recorded four fatalities, including a baby,” Ogunsola reportedly said.

The casualty figure on the side of Ifon people could not be immediately ascertained, but pictures of four different corpses allegedly hit by stray bullets of security agents were made available to journalists who visited the scene of the incident.

The Secretary, Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union, Board of Trustees, Prince Jide Akinyooye, who also addressed journalists on behalf of the Ifon community, said several houses were razed during the attack on the town.

He said, “The gazette that ceded parts of the land belonging to Ifon to Ilobu during Rauf Aregbesola’s regime has been causing the crisis. We are in danger. We have tried to avoid reprisal, but the refusal of the police to act may lead to another thing. Several houses were burnt.”

Governor Adeleke Reacts

Reacting to the communal clash, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, directed that none of the two communities should be seen near the disputed land.

Speaking at the ‘Ipade Imole’ – a public enlightenment programme organised by his administration held in Osogbo on Thursday, Adeleke said, “I have given a directive that nobody should be seen on the disputed land. Anybody they see there should be arrested and prosecuted. The state government has taken over the disputed land.

“The kings and leaders should come together. By the time the government takes over all your land, reality will dawn on you. I have informed the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, who hails from Ilobu. We have given a standing order to the soldiers to be in charge.”

Naija News learnt that many residents of the two communities had fled their houses as a result of the crises.

Journalists who visited the areas confirmed that lifeless bodies were being evacuated by the state government while soldiers, operatives of the Department of State Security, and police operatives were seen at the entrance to the two communities.

Police Reaction

Commenting on the incident earlier, Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said that a new patrol van of police was burnt by the hoodlums.

“They alleged us of taking a side. It is unfortunate that the Monitoring Section van that was donated to us was burnt. Our four men are in hospital now, they were shot. The Divisional Police Officer of Ilobu was among those who were shot. He was shot in the hand. But thanks to God, they are all responding to treatment. They ambushed policemen when our men attempted to broker peace in the area,” Opalola said.

Meanwhile, the Osun state government has since declared a curfew on the two local government areas of Irepodun and Orolu local government areas to prevent escalation.

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