Special Report: Fresh Communal Clash Brews Between Ifon, Ilobu

• Attacks, Hostility, Threats Continue After Peace Accord

A fresh communal clash is imminent between Ifon and Ilobu, except the state government and security agencies swing into action to address the growing tension vis-a-vis mutual threats and harassment. 

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that some indigenes of the two communities have not ceased from attacking, harassing and intimidating one another at every available opportunity, weeks after the state government committed their leaders to a peace accord that ended the communal clash. 

It was noted that the state government or any of the security agencies have not called the stakeholders in the two communities to another round of peace meeting since October 6, in spite of the reports of light scale violence being received. 

According to findings, there are noticeable mutual suspicion between Ifon and Ilobu indigenes, especially at the boundary areas.

There also exists palpable fear among indigenes who want to pass through Ifon or Ilobu either on foot or with their vehicles.

This is just as the indigenes of the two communities have been mindful of the areas to go when it is necessary for them to visit the other town.

A recent case of the mutual threats, attack and harassment of the two communities is an incident involving an indigene of Ifon, Mr. Gbadebo Odelade, who was allegedly attacked at the front of Ilobu Central Mosque by some youths on Friday, November 18, 2023. 

According to sources, Odelade was driving a truck loaded with planks when he was forced to stop at Ilobu on his way to Osogbo around 1pm.

The youths, who were obviously Ilobu indigenes, allegedly beat Odelade and offloaded the planks on the ground that the woods were harvested from Ilobu farms, which Ifon indigenes have barred them from entering after the communal clash. 

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Odelade was eventually allowed to go after being attacked for close to one hour by the angry youths.

Findings also revealed that it took the intervention of the Divisional Police Officers of both Ilobu and Ifon police stations before the truck and the planks could be released the following day. 

However, Ilobu indigenes have also accused Ifon people of attacking commuters and drivers that pass through the community. 

A statement by an indigenous group, Ilobu Youth Vanguard, on November 17, alleged that some indigenes of the town who were coming from some villages in Oyo State were attacked in Ifon. 

The statement titled: “Another Problem Is Looming Between Ilobu And Ifon, a copy of which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “The recent events unfolding between the communities of Ilobu and Ifon have raised serious concerns among the citizens, prompting a call for an urgent intervention from the Osun state government. 

“The residents of Ifon have reportedly been attacking commuters and drivers from Ilobu, particularly those arriving from neighbouring villages in Oyo State.

“The Ilobu Youth Vanguard (IYV) draw attention to the matter, urging the government, led by the esteemed Governor Sen. Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke (Imole Osun), to address this issue promptly. 

“Despite a previous cease-fire order issued by the state government, tensions seem to persist, with the Ilobu residents asserting their commitment to abiding by the law. 

“However, the citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the current security situation, highlighting a perceived concentration of security forces in Ilobu, leaving Ifon residents vulnerable to exploit.

“The Ilobu Concerned Citizens stressed the need for balanced security measures and implored the government to extend its intervention to both communities. The situation, if left unaddressed, could escalate, and the citizens hope that the state government will act swiftly to prevent further unrest.

“In their final plea, the concerned citizens emphasise that this report serves as their last attempt to bring the matter to the government’s attention before people reinstate counter offensive measures. The citizens reaffirm their commitment to lawful actions but underscore the urgency of the government’s response.”

There were also allegations that the people of Ifon have persistently denied Ilobu indigenes access to their farms at various villages on Ifon land. 

An indigene of Ilobu said: “Ifon people have not been allowing our people to go to their various farms at villages belonging to Ifon. Some of our people were attacked for attempting to go to their various farms. 

“There are reports that some people from Ifon have also formed the habit of stealing the farm produce of Ilobu indigenes that have not returned to their farmlands on the pretext that the two communities are still at war. The government should see to this. We need genuine settlement and peace accord.”

In an audio obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, a breed dealer in Ilobu, Mr. Wasiu Abass, who is an Ifon indigene, alleged that he was chased away on the directives of Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan. 

He stated: “I have been evicted from where I am selling bread in Ilobu, they didn’t take it lightly with us. People were coming from the (Olobu) palace consistently to ask us to leave as directed by Kabiesi. 

“When I wanted to deliver bread to my agent who is an indigene of Ilobu on Friday, one man who identified himself as Alhaji Gbadegesin approached me and started spewing rubbish. He said we (Ifon) people are daring them (Ilobu people); he charged at me three times.

“Later, he told me that I was selling Ifon bread in Ilobu, that they do not want to see the bread again. I showed him the label of the breads; I told him the breads taken to Ifon were being produced in Osogbo branch of the maker but he didn’t listen. He later called on some people at the other side; he told them the bread isn’t that of Ifon.

“The following day, the owner of the land on which my container was placed, called and told me that I should suspend activities at the shop. I explained what transpired to him and he said there was no problem again.

“Yesterday, my agent at the shop called to inform me that four people from the palace came to meet her with the Olobu’s staff. She said they told her that she should leave the place with the container that day or the container would be taken to the palace. 

“I called the owner of the land to inform him that we were coming to carry the container away; he warned us not to come with any vehicle with Ifon plate number. 

“I went to the police to report and I was given a patrol vehicle and four policemen from Ilobu Police Station. From what I observed; we would have been attacked if policemen didn’t follow us.”

However, some farmers who are Ilobu indigenes farming on Ifon land have also allegedly that they were being chased away with guns by some Ifon indigenes from their various farms. 

The farmers who were about 20 in number said they could no longer go to their farms because of the restrictions and violent threats from Ifon people. 

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Mr Bashiru Adegbenro, said: “Ifon people have been chasing us away with guns at our villages like Abebi, Opara, and others owned by Ifon. They are stealing our yams, cassava, etc. They are cutting down our cash crop trees to make planks. Our houses and farms have been destroyed. 

“We are hungry; we have no means of livelihood except farming. We are now begging people to feed us. We have reported to the palace but it seems we are all helpless in this situation. The stakeholders should assist us. The government should please wade in and reclaim our farms for us.”

However, Prince Tunde Oyelade, the Secretary General of Olufon Royal Family, told OSUN DEFENDER yesterday that Ifon indigenes were allegedly being maimed by Ilobu people, calling on the state government and security agencies to intervene. 

According to Oyelade, Ifon people have been facing serious threats from Ilobu people, stating that several petitions have been forwarded to security agencies to alert them on the security situation. 

He said: “Recent happenings have revealed that there is fire on the mountain. Ilobu people have been attacking our people, but we have remained calm in the face of provocation. 

“An Ilobu indigene simple known as Emir who lives in Ifon was attacked by his kinsmen for his refusal to join the Ilobus in their onslaught against Ifon.

“A man escaped death last week because he is not an indigene of Ifon. The man who came for a ceremony in Ifon took a bike to visit his friend in Ilobu. Unknown to him, the okada rider is one of the assailants that have been obviously abducting our people to go and kill. 

“He was taken to the den of the assailants in Ilobu and upon getting there the okada rider reportedly said: “guys, I have brought another Ifon indigene”. The assailants came out and as they wanted to descend on the man; he told them he is an indigene of Osogbo and not Ifon. He explained that he came for a programme in Ifon and decided to see a friend in Ilobu. He was asked to call his Ilobu friend and the person confirmed that he is an indigene of Osogbo. He was asked to go afterwards.

“Imagine if he was an indigene of Ifon, that was how he would be killed. The Olobu should be called to order. He has not been playing a good role on this matter. We have reported many cases of threat to the government and security agencies but nothing has been done. We want them to act fast before the tension escalates again.” 

Reacting to the allegations, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Rauf Ogunsola, accused Ifon of being the aggressor and unwilling to end the crisis permanently. 

According to Ogunsola, Ifon has not ceased from preventing the farmers who are Ilobu indigenes from their various farms and even from destroying their farms. 

He said: “Some of the Ilobu indigenes who are farming on Iresa Adu’s land of Oyo state are being prevented from getting to their various farms by the people of Ifon. Since the 4th of October, 2023, they have not been allowed to their farms and villages, among which are Ologele, Bada, wale, Idiroko, Abebi, Bara Odunayo, Bara Oloso and Ojeyemi. On daily basis, they (Ifon indigenes) cut down their economic trees and make them into planks; they destroy their farms. 

“Apart from those ones, there are other farmers at Toluwade village who are indigenes of Ilobu that are not allowed to go to their farms. There are other villages which they don’t allow our people to enter too like Ekoro, Ikimo and others. Some of our people who went to the farm met Ifon indigenes stealing their cassava and they were arrested. Eesa of Ifon Osun came to bail them. 

“There are other villages like Bere Odofin, Oguntunde, opapa that Ifon indigenes go there with arms and ammunition everyday to patrol. 

“Some of our people who live at Ikoosin in Oyo state that need to pass through Ifon before getting to Ilobu were attacked. About four or five of them were attacked separately by the people of Ifon. One was attacked on Monday, three people had been attacked previously. They were shot; their vehicle was destroyed. These things were reported to the police. 

“They (Ifon people) attack our people on daily basis; I am afraid that when they exhaust their patience, they may react. Unless the government calls the Eesa of Ifon to order, I don’t think this attack will stop.”