Why Communal Clashes Persist In Osun – Findings

• As Over 100,000 Residents Displaced, N2bn Property Destroyed In Ifon, Ilobu, Erin

The extreme greed for wealth and material gains among traditional rulers in Osun communities has been identified as the major cause of incessant communal clashes in the state, findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed.

According to investigation, the greed for money and properties has led to disputes over land ownership and resource allocation, fueling communal clashes and deepening divisions within the state, especially among the traditional rulers.

OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that traditional rulers in some of the warring communities were hiding behind the crisis to perpetrate their evil acts.

The medium learnt that some village heads usually send thugs to steal farm produce, especially cash crops from the farms of the communal crisis victims after they have been dislodged from their farms.

Recall that in recent times, Osun has witnessed various communal clashes between communities. Some of these crises are the agelong Ife/Modakeke; Paku Village in Iwo and a village under Lagelu local government, Oyo State; and the current Ifon, Ilobu and Erin communal clashes, among others.

Corroborating the investigation by OSUN DEFENDER on the cause of the persistent communal clashes in the state, the Executive Director of the World Institute for Peace, Kamiludeen Lamina, pointed out that the state government needs to investigate some of these traditional rulers and their chiefs and put them under surveillance.

Lamina also attributed the problem to the negligence on the part of the government. He posited that the government has also failed to provide adequate security and mediate disputes between different communities.

He said, “One of the major reasons for communal clashes in Osun State is the negligence of the state government in addressing the root causes of these conflicts. The government has failed to provide adequate security measures and mediate disputes between different communities, leading to escalating tensions and violence. 

“However, some traditional rulers in Osun State have been accused of prioritizing their own financial interests over the well-being of their subjects. According to findings, the greed for money and properties has led to disputes over land ownership and resource allocation, fueling communal clashes and deepening divisions within the state especially among the traditional rulers.

“Moreover, the problem of marginalization of certain communities by those in power has also played a significant role in the prevalence of communal clashes in Osun State. 

“When communities are marginalized and disenfranchised, it often lead to feelings of resentment and anger towards those communities who have more people in power.”

Proffering a solution to the lingering crisis, Lamina noted that “In order to address the issue of communal clashes in Osun State, it is essential that the state government takes proactive measures to promote peace and reconciliation among different communities.

“This includes investing in conflict resolution mechanisms, providing development projects in marginalized areas, and holding traditional rulers accountable for their actions. By addressing these underlying issues and promoting social cohesion and inclusivity, Osun State can work towards building a more peaceful and harmonious society for all its residents.”

Also, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the warring communities of Ilobu and Ifon are still counting losses after the recent communal clash over a land dispute that started on Tuesday as over 100,000 people have been displaced and properties worth N2 billion destroyed.

The medium learnt that three people, including an ex-councillor, were killed while 30 others sustained gunshot injuries in the fresh attack between Ilobu(Irepodun Local Government Area) and Ifon (Orolu Local Government Area).

Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew and summoned the kings of the warring communities for a meeting on Saturday.

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However, a statement issued at the weekend by the state government through the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said: “Governor Adeleke has approved that the curfew be extended to Erin-Osun town. Governor (Adeleke) directs all security agencies such as the Military, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp NSCDC, Immigration, NDLEA, and Amotekun among others to extend its security surveillance to the community.

“All the security agencies are to ensure strict compliance with the curfew, which is now 24 hours daily until peace is restored. “Meanwhile, we seek to bring to the attention of the public that old videos of communal conflicts in some parts of Osun state are being circulated by opposition elements to spread false pictures of insecurity in Osun State.”

The National President of Ilobu Development Union, Pastor Olufemi Salako said: “On Friday morning, greater parts of Ilobu Community at Ganga, Idire, Apiponroro, Olobu Market, Ayedaade were seriously invaded, houses and shops were burnt down and people of Ilobu were attacked with guns.

“Unfortunately, the Erin-Osun community has also joined from behind, confirming it is a pre-planned and pre-meditated attack on Ilobu Community. So, this time around, it is not about Ifon and Ilobu fighting over disputed land. It is about the determination of Ifon-Osun and Erin-Osun Communities to completely exterminate the Ilobu Community.

“The ongoing carnage and killing has claimed several lives, displaced over 100,000 people, and destroyed properties worth over N2bn. It started on Thursday evening. The attackers became emboldened as our calls to the Osun State Government, Osun State Commissioner of Police and the Osun Security Network fell on deaf ears.”

Meanwhile, the Ifon community through the spokesman of the king, Akeem Adekunle lamented that the security operatives that were deployed by the government were not enough.

Adekunle said: “As I am speaking with you, the situation is still manageable because the government declared a 24-hour curfew and we are seeing the presence of security operatives even though they are not enough. The same team that Ifon is using when we have an emergency is the same that Ilobu people are using.

“We heard gunshots from Ilobu people, we learnt that Ilobu attacked Erin people this morning and their houses. They are sufficiently attacking us. We have too many of the displaced people in our town.

 “The video where Ilobu people mostly children and women are trooping out of the town is their strategy when they are ready for full-blown war. They will evict anything that can be a burden to them during the war and will remain only the full-grown men and their warriors to strike so that they won’t suffer any casualties.

“The Olufon attended the meeting but we are yet to be briefed about what happened at the meeting with the governor.“

Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on historians to avoid distortion of facts to prevent communal conflicts in the state.

Adeleke stated this at Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, on Tuesday, at the methodology workshop with the theme, ‘Cutting Edge Knowledge Production for 21st Historians and Diplomats,’ organised by the Historical Society of Nigeria in collaboration with 12 universities in South West Nigeria.

The governor, represented by Dr Abioye Oyewusi, a commissioner in Osun Teaching Service Commission, who linked the recent communal crises that ravaged Ifon, Illobu and Erin Osun to distortion of facts, challenged historians not to allow bias and to always safeguard facts.

“The conference has come at a timely period. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. We must allow peace to reign in our society. We have had issues of communal clashes in the last couple of days. History lets the fact speaks for themselves. The best anyone can do is to narrate, but a lot of historical facts are being distorted.

“The communal crises that happened in Ifon, Ilobu, and Erin Osun are about the distortion of facts. Facts should not be distorted on any account. As historians and future diplomats, I encourage us all let’s always side with facts. No matter how we are emotionally attached to the subject, we should not allow the facts to get distorted.

“Not just for today, but for tomorrow. Part of the problem regarding the land issue is that our view as Africans, we are culturally and emotionally attached to the land. But when culture and emotional attachment to land become weaponised, it becomes a problem,” Adeleke said.

Offering solution, Adeleke who said the current cycle of violence would be addressed through the State Security Trust Fund, that will help to enhance security in the state, and importantly, the state is looking to starting a peace, safety and security programme right from primary school through the entire school system in the state. Let our youth know about peace right from primary school.”