‘Our wives sleep in mosques, we sleep outside’: Erin-Osun, Ilobu, Ifon residents relive horror of violent conflict

.Governor Adeleke relaxes 24-hour curfew

THE violent conflict which rocked three Osun State towns—Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osun—has displaced hundreds of residents of the three communities.

The violence erupted about two weeks ago over a lingering land dispute.

The state government, however, on Friday relaxed the 24-hour curfew it imposed on the towns as the conflict claimed lives and multi-million naira properties. Many residents of the communities have vacated their homes and businesses for safety.

The state governor, Ademola Adeleke, directed the immediate relaxation of the 24-hour curfew to 17 hours. The restriction now begins from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m.

A statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said the relaxation of the curfew took effect from Friday until further notice.

According to the statement, the governor took the decision to alleviate the suffering of residents of the three towns and provide an opportunity for them to attend to their immediate needs.

While commending the cessation of hostility so far, the governor expressed dissatisfaction with the report of another killing, for which the police had made an arrest, warning that “anybody or group of persons found or caught masterminding any violent act will face the full consequences.”

Governor Adeleke told the joint security taskforce to maintain their usual 24-hour surveillance to ensure zero tolerance for any act of lawlessness.

Additionally, the governor further directed the state emergency agency to intensify the support services for the displaced people as earlier directed.

Some of the displaced people in the three communities spoke with Saturday Tribune:

‘My brother was shot dead on his way to work.’

Mudashiru Afeez, the elder brother of a victim who was shot dead in Erin-Osun, Waheed Adeyinka, said, “Erin was not involved in the crisis. I was told on phone that my brother had been shot dead on his way to work. I heard it was a soldier who killed him.

“This is too much for me to handle. His wife is pregnant. He was my only sibling.

“I’m appealing to Nigerians to come to our aid. This is a serious tribulation for me. I don’t know how to start over.”

We treated 17 victims for serious gunshot wounds —Hospital

Kehinde Joshua and Ademola Inaolaji, two victims of the communal clash in Erin-Osun were in critical conditions with gunshot wounds in Erin-Osun. Dr. Adetayo Owolabi was the physician at Ade Imole Hospital, Erin-Osun, who treated them. He said, “We have about 17 victims who had serious gunshot wounds, and we’ve been attending to them for four days.

“We had one person who was brought in dead. The body has been taken to the mortuary. One person had a gunshot wound in the thigh; we’ve treated and discharged him.

“Another was shot in the leg and suffered a fracture. We’ve operated on him, and he is recuperating. One person had about three bullets in him, and I just removed the remaining two.

“We have three major casualties. One has been discharged, while the remaining two are still being treated and are recuperating.

“We attended to 17 victims, but we only had three major casualties and one person brought in dead. These victims are indigenes of Erin.”

President of Erin-Osun Progressive Union speaks

The president of Erin-Osun Progressive Union, …., said: “The whole episode started on Saturday. Although the issue began on Friday evening between Ifon and Ilobu, Erin was never involved.

“But towards the evening of Saturday, we started hearing comments from Ilobu that Erin had joined Ifon to attack them. We were trying to debunk the claim, but later that evening, we heard they were gathering, so we asked our people to be on guard.

“I sent a Save Our Soul message to the Special Adviser on Security, asking for security presence in our community. Security personnel were sent here, but at that time, we had to repel the movement of Ilobu people because their intention was to burn down First Bank, which is along the borderline. They even went to First Baptist Church and attempted to burn down the pastor’s car.

“The strangest thing was that when our people tried to repel the Ilobu attackers, the army was pushing our people back by shooting. It was in this process that Waheed was shot. He was pronounced dead when they got to the hospital.

“From there, they moved to the borderline and burned down houses. The extent of the damages is enormous. They burned First Baptist Church, the CAC Primary School, and even our Kabiyesi’s filling station.

“They later moved to the other side of the boundary line and started burning houses there.

“Another strange thing was that when the governor called us for a meeting, before we got back, I received a call from the Oluode of Erin-Osun. He told me that soldiers in uniform came to his house and vandalised the vehicle and car in front of his house. There is no way people from Ilobu could have gained access to the Oluode’s house unless with military support.”

Displaced victims share their anguish

A displaced victim from Ilobu, Akeem Badmus, said, “Trouble started when we were about to eat Sahur last Friday. I heard gunshots, and my family and I had to leave our house and run for safety.

“My family house at Ireakari was burned down by Erin people. Also, my wife’s shop was burned. I just pray this war will stop.

“We’ve been sleeping on the street since then. Our wives are sleeping in the mosque while we men sleep outside.

“Feeding has not been easy, but I thank the Muslim community in this area. They’ve been very accommodating, providing shelter and food for us.

“The soldiers deployed for security—I don’t know if some of them are fake because they shot at us and created more problems. We are even scared when we see soldiers outside.

“I appeal to the state government to find a lasting solution to this problem and also help those who have lost their properties and means of livelihood.”

Another displaced victim, Mutiyat Alhassan, said, “It’s not been easy at all. I left home with my husband and children. The problem started around 11:00 p.m. on Friday, but it escalated during the Sahur period on Saturday, and we had to flee our house.

“I can’t even explain how I got here because it was total chaos, and people were just scampering for safety. I thank God that we are safe today. May the souls of those who died rest in peace.

“I appeal to the state government to help us. We want to return to our house because it has not been easy at all.”

Also, Isiaka Adenle said, “During the Sahur period, I heard gunshots, and I had to leave home with my family. Initially, we went to another area in Ilobu, but when the issue persisted the next day, we had to leave that place and come to the Ojutu area.

“Ilobu, Ifon, and Erin are one big family, and we don’t want war anymore. The government should help us stop this war permanently.

“I also appeal to the state government to relax this curfew so we can go to work and feed our families.

“The mosque has been giving us food. Also, the youth of Ilobu have really tried. They have been giving us food, and I am very proud of them.”

A victim in Ifon-Osun, Sulaimoh Waheed Iyiola Olomiobe, told Saturday Tribune that the Ilobu people came to attack his residence around 11 p.m. at Odo-Oje area of Ifon.

According to him, they brutalised and beat the entire family members severely, then burned down his vehicle, building, and other valuables.

He said all efforts to plead with them for mercy proved abortive. “The more we pleaded with them, the more we were severely brutalised,” he said.

Adeolu Adeyemo