Following the resurgence of communal conflict between the Ifon and Ilobu communities, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has declared a curfew to restore peace and prevent further violence. The curfew, which restricts movement from 7 pm to 7 am, takes effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice.
This decision was announced in a press statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in Osogbo on Thursday, January 16, 2025. To maintain order, a team of security operatives comprising the Army, Police, and Civil Defence has been deployed to the troubled areas.
Governor Adeleke also called on all stakeholders to cooperate with the government’s efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully. The state government has also outlined additional steps to address the conflict.
An enlarged Committee of Stakeholders, including community representatives, service chiefs, members of the State Council of Obas, and other relevant bodies, will be formed to find a lasting solution. In a warning to potential troublemakers, the government stressed that anyone found instigating or participating in violence will face legal prosecution.
“Anyone or group of persons found engaging in violence, knowingly or unknowingly, will face the full wrath of the law,” the statement concluded.
