There was tension in Osun State on Monday over reported resurgence of clashes between Indigenes of Ilobu and Ifon-Osun.
The towns have been enjoying a fragile peace since the curfew imposed by the state government in 2023 was lifted.
It was gathered that trouble started when unsubstantiated news went round the towns that some buildings in remote parts of Ifon, including a police post were razed down by some hoodlums in the early hours of Monday, a situation that heightened panic in the affected communities.
Some parents hurried to the schools of their children and withdrew them, just as some traders shot their shops when news filtered that there might be a resurgence of the crisis.
Also, security personnel, including the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, were observed moving to the towns in their patrol vehicles.
There have been violent clashes between Ilobu and Ifon-Osun communities in times past over land boundaries.
The issue escalated between September and October, 2023, leading to the destruction of property, killings and maiming of innocent citizens .
As a result of the clashes, many residents were rendered homeless and the state government declared an indefinite curfew as a means of restoring sanity to both communities
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of Ilobu Asake Development Union, Jare Tiamiyu has blamed the Osun State Government for the near breakdown of the fragile peace in the communities.
He alleged that, “Whatever is happening in Ilobu and Ifon-Osun now was caused by the irresponsibility of the Osun State Government under Senator Ademola Adeleke.”
Speaking on the incident, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Leke Ogunsola revealed that hoodlums from Ifon while attacking Ilobu farmers in Ologele and Aganna villages, shot dead a farmer, while others were injured.
But the Secretary, Ifon Progressive Union Board of Trustees, Jide Akinyooye, reacting to the development, also alleged that hoodlums from Ilobu attacked indigenes of the town and injured many of them.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, while confirming the latest clash, said security personnel have been drafted to the area.
“We have deployed men to the communities. We are already working on the issues. I will brief you on further development,” she said.
Adeleke Kehinde, the Public Relations officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, also said the command had deployed its armed squad to the area.
While confirming that there were bloody clashes, Adeleke could not, however, confirm if any casualty was recorded.
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