By Titilope Adako
Nigeria – Osun: A fresh communal conflict between Ifon in Orolu Local Government and Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State has reportedly left 30 residents shot.
The violence, which erupted in the early hours of Friday, also saw several houses and shops set ablaze.
It was gathered that both communities had been engaging in clashes over villages and disputed land before the latest outbreak of hostilities.
In a video circulating on social media, a group identified as Concerned Youth of Ifon Osun, Orolu Kingdom condemned the attacks and called on the Osun State Government to intervene.
“We can’t keep looking and be watching Olobu & Ilobu people’s burning our shops and houses in the midnight any longer.
“We, the Youth of Ifon Osun Orolu Kingdom, call on the state Government of Osun to hasten their steps and actions to short things out, we have been patiently enduring the brutal attacks and destructive behavior of Ilobu hoodlums for far too long.
“Our peace-loving and law-abiding king, Oba Peter Oluwole Ipadeola Ilufemiloye Akinyooiye III, Olufon of Ifon Osun Orolu Kingdom, has been calming our youths and advising restraint, despite the ongoing aggression from Ilobu.
“However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to remain passive while our ancestral properties and farmlands are being destroyed and our people are being harmed.”
However, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola, denied allegations that Ilobu residents attacked Ifon, insisting that Ifon indigenes were the aggressors.
“Since Tuesday, they have been attacking our people on their farmland like 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 Nureni and Oseni Saluwudeen and 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, they started burning and shooting our people. Mostly, children and women were caught in this attack; they caught us unawares.
“Our children and women are displaced now, we are extracting bullets in the palace through local means, they have brought about 30 to palace for us to remove the bullets in their body, they are still bringing more. Children and women are mostly affected.”
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