1 killed, houses burnt as Osun communities renew hostilities

• Residents desert communities, as Adeleke imposes dusk to dawn curfew, invites monarchs for meeting

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered a curfew from 6pm to 6am in Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government and Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government area of the state amidst the hostilities in the area.

The two communities renewed their fight Thursday night and many houses were burnt while some residents were shot.

It was gathered that a former councilor in Ifon-Osun, simply identified as Azeez, was killed in the crisis.

Azeez was confirmed dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. An eyewitness said he died on Friday from a gun injury.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on Friday, Adeleke ordered that the curfew should continue until lasting peace is restored in the two communities.

“The governor has directed that the initial 10pm to 4am curfew now be extended to 6pm to 6am effective today, Friday, 21st March 2025, until further notice.

“Mr Governor has equally directed that the joint security team comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps continue to maintain their usual 24-hour surveillance to ensure zero tolerance for any act of lawlessness.

“In addition, the governor has directed that an immediate stakeholders’ meeting, including the Olufon of Ifon, HRM Oba Peter Oluwole Akinyooye, HRM Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, the Olobu of Ilobu, and other stakeholders from both communities, be held tomorrow, Saturday, 22nd March 2025, to discuss further resolutions of the conflict.”

Record shows that the age-long hostilities between the two communities had persisted and the fight had occurred about eight times from September 16 2022 till date.