Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has extended the curfew on the warring communities of Ilobu and Ifon to include Erin-Osun, a neighboring town.
The state government has now imposed a 24-hour curfew on all three towns to prevent further violence.
The decision was announced in separate statements on Saturday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, and the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
According to Alimi, security agencies, including the military, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration, NDLEA, and Amotekun, have been ordered to ensure strict compliance with the curfew.
“All security agencies are to ensure strict compliance with the curfew, which is now 24 hours daily until peace is restored,” he said.
Alimi also expressed disappointment over the renewed clashes in Ilobu and Ifon, saying the government took the decision to stop the crisis from escalating further.
In his statement, Rasheed quoted Governor Adeleke as assuring the people of Ilobu and Ifon that urgent steps are being taken to restore peace. The governor also directed the emergency services agency to begin operations in the affected areas.
Responding to calls for help from residents, Adeleke said, “I assure the people of Ilobu and Ifon that I am committed to securing their lives and properties. I have updated the presidency on developments in the state. We are on top of the situation.”
The governor also warned against the spread of old videos showing past communal conflicts in Osun State, accusing opposition groups of using them to create false panic.
“While the ongoing conflict is regrettable and while all hands are on deck to stop the violence, we inform the public to take note of the activities of fake news merchants who are digging up old videos to discredit the state government,” the statement read.
Reports indicate that a former councillor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was killed in the crisis on Friday. Several houses and properties were also destroyed due to the land boundary dispute between the communities.
Governor Adeleke has called for calm and urged community leaders to support peace efforts to bring an end to the violence.
