Communal clash: Adeleke imposes fresh curfew in two communities

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has imposed a curfew on the Ifon and Ilobu communities in the state following a recent communal misunderstanding between the two areas.
The curfew, which takes immediate effect, is aimed at restoring peace and order in the affected communities.
This decision follows a series of communal clashes between Ifon and Ilobu, prompting the Adeleke administration to implement proactive measures to ensure lasting peace. Last year, a 6 pm to 6 am curfew was imposed on the communities.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a press statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday, said the governor approved a 7 pm to 7 am curfew to forestall further escalation of the crisis.
The statement reads:
“Following the outbreak of another communal clash between the people of Ifon and Ilobu, the Osun State Government has taken the following decisions aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the warring communities:
That a 7 pm to 7 am curfew be imposed with immediate effect, starting from today, Thursday, the 16th of January, 2025, until further notice.
That a contingent of security personnel, comprising the Army, Police, and Civil Defence, has been deployed to the warring communities to forestall further anarchy.
That all stakeholders in the areas are advised to cooperate with the state government to resolve the issues amicably and ensure lasting peace.
That an enlarged Committee of Stakeholders, which shall consist of representatives of the communities, the Service Chiefs, representatives of the State Council of Obas, and other relevant bodies, be immediately constituted to resolve the issue permanently.
“Finally, anyone or group of persons found or caught instigating or engaging in further violence, knowingly or unknowingly breaching the peace, will face the full wrath of the law through necessary prosecution in line with the dictates of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”