Land dispute between Ifon, the headquarters of Orolu Local Government, and Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government.
Communal Clash – The Ifon and Ilobu communities in Osun State have resumed their communal conflict over a long-standing land issue, with three persons reportedly killed and thirty others wounded, including a former councillor named Azeez.
There has been bloodshed, injuries, and property damage caused by arsonists as a result of the land dispute between Ifon, the headquarters of Orolu Local Government, and Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government.
Eight distinct conflicts occurred in Osun State during the past 18 months, prompting Governor Ademola Adeleke to impose curfews sporadically in reaction to the rising violence.
Due to Adeleke’s decision on March 2, 2025, the dusk-to-dawn curfew was loosened to fall between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. The leaders of the two communities reportedly battled over the disputed territory on Monday, which exacerbated the tensions that had been building up despite these attempts.
A large number of homes in both settlements had been set on fire by the early hours of Friday, forcing women and children to flee their homes.
Akeeb Adekunle, the spokesperson for Oba Peter Ilufemiloye, the Olufon of Ifon accused people of Ilobu of initiating many attacks in response to the most recent act of violence.
“They have been attacking us since Monday. Despite our reports to the police, the attacks continued, and they even shot at law enforcement officers. We have written petitions to Governor Adeleke, urging him to intervene and resolve the matter peacefully.
“Yesterday, they attacked us again, we had a series of gunshots, they killed three of our people, one of them was razed inside her house, a man was hacked to death while an ex-councilor, Azeez was shot dead by Ilobu people. They even burnt government-owned primary health care in the Akinponroro area.”
Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola he denied the allegations noting that ”Ifon people attacked us first. Since Tuesday, they have been attacking our people on their farmlands including Agbere Onireke and Opapa. They attacked a chief in an attempt to kidnap him, but he was rescued by farmers around.
“On Wednesday, they went to a farm at Gbere to attack one Nureni and Oseni Saluwudeen, they burnt down two motorcycles which will reported at the police station in Ilobu.”
On the other hand, Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola denied the allegations stating that ”Ifon people attacked us first. Since Tuesday, they have been attacking our people on their farmlands including Agbere Onireke and Opapa. They attacked a chief in an attempt to kidnap him, but he was rescued by farmers around,” according to The Nation.
“On Wednesday, they went to a farm at Gbere to attack one Nureni and Oseni Saluwudeen, they burnt down two motorcycles which will reported at the police station in Ilobu.”
“Yesterday, in the evening they went to a place called Oke-Ekutu, they destroyed all the houses and set one on fire. They went to Akipanroro, Ganga, and Oke-Ayepe, and they started burning and shooting our people. Mostly children and women were caught in this attack, they caught us unaware.
“Our children and women are displaced now, we are extracting bullets in the palace through local means, they have brought about 30 to the palace for us to remove the bullets in their body, they are still bringing more. Children and women are mostly affected.”
SP Akeem Adeola, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, was called and said that in response to the restart of violence in Ilobu and Ifon, “The Osun State Command has deployed men to restore peace and order.”
IREPORT247NEW reports that the Osun State Governor has imposed a curfew on the warring communities of Ifon and Ilobu in the state. The curfew, which takes effect immediately, is aimed at restoring peace and order in the affected areas. The governor has called for a meeting with the monarchs of the two communities. The aim is to discuss the crisis. They hope to find a lasting solution.
The curfew imposed by the governor will run from 10 pm to 6 am daily. During this time, residents of the affected communities are expected to stay indoors, and all forms of movement are restricted. The governor has also deployed security personnel to the area to enforce the curfew and maintain law and order.