In a move to ensure peace and orderliness in the Ifon/ Ilobu communities, Osun state government on Saturday extended the curfew imposed on the two communities to Erin-Osun town, an adjourning community to prevent escalation.
The state commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi who made the announcement in a statement in Osogbo, charged all the security agencies to ensure strict compliance to the curfew, which is now 24 hours daily until peace is restored.
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He added that the Governor 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.
“The imposed curfew was necessary to forestall escalation of the crisis and breakdown of law and order due to the communal clashes in the communities,” he said.
The commissioner quoted Governor Adeleke was to have expressed his dissatisfaction over the resurgence of the crisis in the warring communities.
“His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke is saddened at the escalation of the communal clashes between Ilobu and Ifon communities.
“To ensure that the crisis is curbed in the environment, the Governor has approved that the curfew be extended to Erin-Osun community and the curfew time is now 24-hours daily, effective immediately (today March 22, 2025) until further notice.
“Governor Adeleke has further directed that the joint security team comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NDLEA and AMOTEKUN among others to continue to maintain their usual 24-hour surveillance and forestall breakdown of law and order.
“The Governor expresses his sympathy on lives and property lost in the escalated communal crisis and assures that perpetrators will face the wrath of law.
“Osun state is a place of peace and harmony, and the government will not allow it to be truncated. This communal clash has to stop now, and we will ensure that it happens.
“I urge everyone to imbibe the ethos of Omoluabi and shun communal crisis, embrace peaceful co-existence as brothers and sisters,” the statement concluded.
Iin a separate Statement by governor Ademola Adeleke, Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor assured the people of Ilobu and Ifon communities that speedy conflict resolution steps are being taken to restore peace even as he expressed directed the emergency services agency to activate its operations
According to him, the governor who was responding to a Save Our Soul message from the people of Ilobu and Ifon, said his administration has re-strategized on resolving the conflict with multiple peacebuilding options which are being unveiled and implemented.
“I assure the people of Ilobu and Ifon that I am committed to securing their lives and properties. I have updated the presidency of development in the state. We are on top of the situation.
“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.
“While the ongoing conflict is regrettable and while all hands are on deck to stop the violence, we inform the public to take note of the activities of fake news merchants who are digging up old videos to discredit the state government.
“The videos being circulated of violence in other towns and villages in Osun are fake news and should be disregarded by the members of the public.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke has stepped up conflict de-escalation moves on Ifon- Ilobu conflict, imposing a 24-hour curfew, mobilising joint security task force and hosting a peace deal between the two warring communities,” he submitted.
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