From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Despite the peace accord signed by the people of Ifon in Orolu Local Government and Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government of Osun State, internal wrangling is still ongoing between the two communities.
The two communities had recently fought over a parcel of land where lives were lost and properties worth millions of people of naira destroyed.
The secretary of the Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union Board of Trustees, Prince Jide Akinyooye, who spoke to Journalists in Osogbo, said there is a serious need to restore sanity to the security situation in Orolu Local Government because of the continued threat to his life and the public in the affected area by one Asif Azeez, the caretaker vice chairman of Irepodun Local Government.
Akinyooye alleged that the Ilobu community has been excavating sand and gravel at Opapa Village which the state government has declared a restricted area.
According to him, besides violation of the peace pact signed with the state government, some thugs have continued to threaten the lives of the Olokanla people, who are traditional tenants of the Olufon of Ifon-Orolu Kingdom and other chiefs including people of Orolu Local Government.
“We are calling on the security agencies to probe gross violation of the Peace Pact signed with the Osun State Government. Particularly, the issue of sand excavation in Opapa Village that has been taken over by the Osun State Government.
“We request the Osun State Government to erect visible signboards in the restricted area to discourage continued activities by any of the three communities as these activities, if not fully checked, could frustrate the peace efforts of government,” Akinyooye said.
But Azeez debunked the allegation saying all allegations against him are baseless.
The allegations against me are lies. I have never threatened any indigene of Ifon or had any issue with anybody. All the allegations are just baseless rumors to tarnish my image,” Azeez said.
The Otunjagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunshola, said the government must continue to engage the two communities if they would settle the matter, saying there are killings and internal wrangling ongoing.
He alleged that the people of Ifon have denied communities under the Ilobu movement to their farm while nobody has been arrested despite the arrest and detention of four people in Ilobu.
“About 15 villages have not been allowed to go to their farms just because they will pass through Ifon and they are not even within the territory of Osun state but Oyo state. Their villages were set on fire and also stole their property after the peace agreement,” Ogunshola said.