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• 24-hour curfew still in force –Govt
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Osun State government yesterday disclosed that the warring Ifon and Ilobu towns have signed a peace agreement to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign.
However, the government maintained that the restriction on human and vehicular movement placed on the two towns will continue just as security forces will continue to maintain law and order in them.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, who disclosed this in a statement, condemned the destruction of lives and property in the two towns following a land dispute.
According to the commissioner, the Ifon and Ilobu communities of Orolu and Irepodun local governments respectively have agreed to sheath their swords with immediate effect following a signed peace agreement to stop the communal clashes.
“Notwithstanding this cheering development, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the executive governor of Osun State in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the state directs that the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed in Orolu and Irepodun local governments housing Ifon and Ilobu communities be continued until further notice.
“The peace pact agreement was arrived at during a stakeholders meeting held Friday night, between the Osun State government and the leaders of the two warring communities.
“The Otun Olobu, Chief Jimoh Waliyu, the Esa of Ifon, Chief Babatunde Oyetunji and the representative of the third community of Olokanla, Mr Bashiru Azeez, with two other representatives from each of the community, signed the peace agreement on behalf of their communities.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke commended the resolve by the warring communities in putting pen on paper to say ‘no to war and yes to peace’ in Ifon, Ilobu, and Olokanla communities.
“With the peace agreement reached, the 24-hour curfew should continue till a total restoration of peace, law, and order in the communities, must have been seen to have returned totally.
“Anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or saying anything contrary to the peace agreement would be prosecuted in line with the dictate of the law accordingly.
“Strict restriction of both human and vehicular movements in the affected areas and communities subsists until otherwise directed by His Excellency, the state governor and the chief security officer of Osun State.
“Officers of the Joint Security Task Force comprising the Nigerian Army, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and other security agents, as directed by His Excellency, are to remain on the 24-hour surveillance of the two communities to ensure a lasting peace,” Alimi said.
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