No fewer than 30 residents have been shot in a fresh communal clash between Ifon in Orolu local government and Ilobu in Irepodun council area of Osun State.
According to reports, many more, especially children and women, have been displaced in the ongoing land dispute.
Several houses and shops were also razed in the attack in the early hours of Friday.
The Spokesperson to Olufon of Ifon, Mr. Akeeb Adekunle, alleged that the crisis has been brewing since last week following a series of attacks on Indigenes of Ifon by Ilobu, which were reported at the police station without any succor.
His words, “The incident escalated last night with hoodlums from Ilobu invading some of the disputed areas, especially Apenponroro burning a Primary Health Centre and residential buildings.
“An old woman was killed in the community and her body burnt in her house. Our people are running for their safety presently”.
Also, Chief Adegoke Ogunsola alleged that hoodlums from Ifon had been terrorizing Ilobu indigenes in the area and attempted to kidnap a victim before some people rescued him after crying for help.
“We have reported several attacks in the Apenponroro area in Ilobu by Ifon hoodlums to the Police, but we have not received any help. But Yesterday night, the hoodlums invaded the Ilobu community, shooting sporadically into the air and burning houses till this morning.
“We urge security operatives to come to our aide soonest to avoid carnage in the community,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has directed immediate security operations to restore peace between Ifon and Ilobu communities, urging the peace committee to revive the peace deal.
This was contained in a statement issued by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the State Governor.
In the statement, Adeleke enjoined the joint security task force to step in immediately and stop the clashes.
The Governor who decried the politicization of the crisis tasked the task force to go after the ring leaders and ensure they face the full wrath of the law.
He further urged the peace committee to ensure immediate cessation of hostility to preserve lives and properties.
The Governor who lamented the repeated breach of peace deals among the warring communities warned that his administration will take stringent action on the buffer zone between the two communities unless hostility stopped immediately.
The Governor is currently holding security and political engagements to find a lasting solution to the crisis which predates the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
