Two Injured In Renewed Osun Communal Clash
At least two people sustained varying degrees of injuries in renewed hostilities between Ilobu and Ifon Orolu communities in Osun State on Tuesday.
Osun Defender reports that the long-standing conflict over a boundary dispute, had previously claimed about 40 lives and led to significant property destruction.
Tensions reignited after the Ifon community issued a 14-day ultimatum on Friday, demanding that Ilobu residents vacate the contested area.
The ultimatum cited a declaration by Governor Ademola Adeleke, designating the disputed land as a buffer zone.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union (IPU) Secretary, Prince Jide Akinyooye, revealed that the attack occurred in the early hours, displacing residents in the Odoje and Golden Gate areas of Ifon.
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He added, “Two people sustained gunshot injuries,” and called on the Osun State Government to intervene and bring the perpetrators to justice.
However, Chief Leke Ogunsola, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, alleged that gunmen from Ifon-Osun invaded the Ganga Akinpororo community near Ilobu’s Golden Gate around noon.
“They started destroying properties at the area and some people ran away for their own lives. While some properties owners came out to defend their properties.
“The gunmen from Ifon-Osun are mostly war machinery. I want to commend the security operatives most especially the police, Nigerian Army, and civil defense, they responded on time and they are on ground now.”
He appealed to security agencies not to withdraw their men who are on ground to prevent any other attacks.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.