As renewed clashes between the communities of Ifon in Orolu local government and Ilobu in Irepodun council of Osun state continue to escalate, victims from both sides are recounting their harrowing experiences.
With numerous houses and shops razed, people sustained gunshot injuries and countless families displaced, the situation remains dire.
Akeem Adekunle Yusuf, the spokesperson for Olufon of Ifon, described the attacks, saying, “We started hearing sporadic gunshots around 11 o’clock last night. They began burning our people’s houses and killing our people. We cannot confirm the number of casualties and destroyed homes as of now.”
Yusuf alleged that the attackers went as far as setting a woman’s house on fire with her inside and even targeted government-owned primary healthcare facilities.
Chief Adegoke Ogunsola, Otun Jagun of Ilobu, said that the conflict began when their people were attacked on their farms earlier in the week.
According to Ogunsola, the attacks continued in various areas of Ilobu, alleging that the neighbouring Erin Osun community joined in attacking them, resulting in more homes being burned down.
While no fatalities have been confirmed, several individuals have been hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Confirming the attacks, Akeem Adeoye, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state said the command has drafted its men to the communities to restore order.
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed immediate security operations to restore peace between the two communities, urging the peace committee to revive the peace deal.
In a statement issued over the renewed crisis by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to the Governor, 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.
Adeleke who lamented the repeated breach of peace deals among the warring communities warned that his administration would 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.
