By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
No fewer than two persons have been killed in a fresh communal clash between Ifon and Ilobu communities of Osun state.
The renewed clash between the two communities located in Orolu and Irepodun Local Government Areas of Osun State led to the destruction of the two villages on Monday.
Confirming the incident, the Osun Police Command said the corpses of the victims have been deposited in the mortuary at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital.
The Police, in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its image maker, SP Yemisi Opalola said that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the unfortunate communal clash between the two communities.
The Police Command called for calm over the incident, noting that the Command has deployed proactive measures to restore peace to the community and forestall any further breakdown of law and order in the area.
Narraring the incident, the Police said, “Unfortunately, two persons lost their lives to the incident and the corpses have been deposited in the mortuary at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital.
“Meanwhile one Mojeed Oyewumi Alani ‘M’ and one other who were arrested with Weapons and Criminal Charms by Police operatives for their role in the communal clash have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Bzigu Dali Kwazhi, mni, while commiserating with victims of the unfortunate incident appeals to the members of the general public, especially the people living in the warring communities to remain calm as discreet investigation has commenced.”
Reacting to the renewed communal clash, the Osun state government has imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew in Ifon and Ilobu communities.
The state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the government took the following decisions aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the warring communities of Ifon and Ilobu.
The statement reads, “A 6pm to 6am curfew will be imposed with immediate effect starting from today, Tuesday, the 30th of Jan 2024 on the warring communities.
“The Osun state government should set up a joint task force of all stakeholders in the warring communities, which should include traditional chiefs of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun with immediate effect.
“A high powered stakeholders meeting will be held with all traditional chiefs and rulers from the three communities with government officials and all security chiefs in attendance.
“A contingent of all security personnels, comprising the Army, Police, Civil Defence, be deployed to the warring communities with immediate effect.
“The present administration under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has mobilized all the necessary security personnel to the warring communities, it sympathises, accordingly with the affected people, who lost their loved ones in the wake of the renewed violence.
“Premised on the review of the security situation, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the state, has approved that the 6pm to 6am curfew be imposed with immediate effect.
“Finally, in this regard, anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or instigating any further violence, knowingly or unknowingly, in breach of lasting peace would be made to face the music, via necessary prosecution, in line with the dictates of the law of Nigeria.”