Adeleke vows clampdown on communal conflicts as community urges Tinubu’s intervention
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Monday, visited areas affected by the communal clashes in Ilobu, Ifon and Erin Osun communities, condemning the large-scale destruction of properties.
Adeleke charged the security agents to go after the perpetrators.
What initially started as boundary disputes between Ifon and Ilobu communities in the early hours of last Friday, later spread to Erin Osun on Saturday, forcing the state government to review earlier 12-hour curfew to 24-hour restriction of movement in the affected towns.
Many houses were also razed in the clashes in the three communities forcing residents to flee to Okinni, Osogbo and Ido Osun to avoid being killed.
Adeleke, accompanied by the heads of various security agencies in the state, who had visited Apiponroro, where many buildings were razed, was also at Olobu’s market for an on-the-spot assessment of the aftermath of the clashes.
Also, many internally displaced people, who had fled from the crises, were observed near Ojutu Bridge in Ilobu and along Okinni road, with security operatives keeping a close eye on them as the governor and his team passed through the area.
Speaking to journalists after going round the affected areas, the governor, who commended the security operatives for enforcing 2the 4-hour curfew imposed on the communities, also said the crises ravaging the affected towns could discourage investors interested in bringing their businesses to the state.
“Osun has been a very peaceful state, and these are the security agencies that have been doing it, and they didn’t disappoint me. I can assure you that we will do all we need to do to make sure you deliver on your job and have a safe environment.
“The crisis has been lingering. When I first came in, I told stakeholders of the communities that there would be no development if they continued to fight among themselves and that once investors heard Osun, they would run away, thinking the state was not safe.
“We have put a lot of things in place that would make sure by the Grace of God that the peace will be permanent. There will be no fighting again. I have given a directive that all the culprits should be brought to book. I am not going to take any nonsense anymore because it’s getting too much and my people are dying. It is not acceptable,” Adeleke said.
Meanwhile, the Ilobu Asake Development Union, the flagship group of the indigenes of the Ilobu community, has called on President Bola Tinubu, to direct heads of the security agencies to replace those working in the area with competent and unbiased officers.
The community in an open letter addressed to Tinubu dated Monday, signed by the IDU President, Olufemi Salako, also demanded, “Immediate arrest and prosecution of the ethnic militias that invaded Ilobu Community.”
It further urged Tinubu to direct, “the Chief of Army Staff to send his men to protect the Country Home of General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. who served this great country to the last day of his life.
“Directing the Chief of Army Staff to establish a Command and Control Centre at the llobu Community to reinforce the security networks in Osun State.
“Mobilising aggressively human and material resources towards alleviating the prevailing humanitarian crisis affecting a large number of the displaced residents of the llobu community.”
