Adeleke’s Inaction Fueling Ifon, Ilobu Crisis – Group
- As Two Shot In Continued Deadly Communal Clash
A Civil Society group in Osun State, Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), has called out the state government over the renewed hostilities between Ifon and Ilobu town.
The group said the continued inaction of the state government should be blamed for the ongoing deadly clash between the two communities.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Ilobu and Ifon have been embroiled in communal clashes which centers on unresolved boundary disputes for years.
However, the issue climaxed in October 2023, when the clash between the two communities over a disputed parcel of land in the Opapa area led to the death of no fewer than 11 people and millions of property destroyed.
After the deadly clash, the state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the communities.
The government also declared the area where the disputed land is located as buffer zones, warning the two communities not to go there.
Also, a committee was set up by the state government to look into the issue with the aim of brokering peace with warring communities.
However, 14 months after the deadly clash, the state government has yet to come up with a template on how to resolve the issue permanently.
The failure of the government to find a lasting solution has led to the continued hostility between the two communities.
There were reported cases of clashes between the two communities in 2024 with stakeholders from both communities accusing each other of sponsored attacks.
OSUN DEFENDER noted that despite calls from various quarters to find a lasting solution, the state government has not done much on the matter, with the Commissioner for Information stating that the government is working on resolving the issue.
READ ALSO
- Again, Adeleke Declares Curfew In Ifon, Ilobu
- Ifon Community Writes Adeleke, Alleges Ilobu Of Intimidation, Violation Of State Order
Meanwhile, the two communities, again, on Tuesday, engaged themselves, with two persons allegedly shot.
The Ifon Progressive Union, an umbrella body for the indigenes of Ifon-Orolu in Osun State, alleged that two people were injured in a shooting incident in the Apiponroro area, purportedly carried out by individuals from the neighbouring Ilobu community.
The Secretary of the Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union’s Board of Trustees, Jide Akinyooye, disclosed that the violence erupted in the early hours of Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
“Gunshots were heard in Odoje and Golden Gate areas of Ifon, leading to the displacement of several residents. Two individuals sustained gunshot injuries as of the time of issuing this statement,” Akinyooye said.
He accused the Ilobu community of escalating the crisis despite ongoing government efforts to resolve the boundary dispute in the Opapa buffer zone.
“This brazen disregard for human life is unacceptable. The Ilobu community has continued to engage in violent clashes, endangering innocent lives,” he said.
Akinyooye called on the state government to take decisive action against those responsible for the violence.
However, Ilobu leaders have countered the allegations. The Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola, accused gunmen from Ifon of attacking Ilobu residents in the early hours of Tuesday.
“Our people living in Ganga and Apiponroro called to report that gunmen from Ifon had laid siege to the area. Those attacked had no choice but to defend themselves. At a meeting held on Monday, the Olufon issued threats against us,” Ogunsola claimed.
He appealed to the government to intervene and protect Ilobu residents, insisting that his community has always been peace-loving.
“We urge the state government to act decisively and protect us from these repeated attacks,” he said.
Reacting to the latest incident, the Coordinator of CSJPP, Akin Akanji, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER, berated the state government for not living up to its responsibility.
Akanji said the matter should have been put to rest if the government is serious, adding the failure of the government to do something meaningful will lead to more casualties.
The statement read in part, “The continuous clash between Ilobu and Ifon is the irresponsibility of the state government. It is very unfortunate that things like this are going on, and there seems to be no end to it.
“Since 2023 when we had the deadly clash which claimed a lot of lives, the state government has yet to come up with a lasting solution to the issue. How can it take a responsible government more than a year to call the two communities and settle the matter?
“It seems Governor Ademola Adeleke and his cabinet are too preoccupied with other things than what is happening in Ifon and Ilobu. Is it until the two communities are burnt to ashes before Adeleke performs one of his core responsibilities which is the security of lives and properties?
“As a group, we want to call on the state government to find a lasting solution to the problem on ground. This matter needs urgent attention from all concerned stakeholders. We can’t afford to continue losing our loved ones because of land issues.”
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
