Councilor Killed, many injured as Osun Communal Crisis Worsens

The boundary disputes between Ifon and Ilobu communities in Osun State, surged again on Friday with the reported murder of a former councilor from Ifon Orolu in the state simply identified as Azeez.

But the exact circumstance surrounding the death of the former councilor remained hazy Friday evening.

According to reports, Azeez was confirmed dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, early on Friday in circumstances related to the spiraling disputes between the two communities during which several houses were reportedly razed.

The Punch newspaper quoted the media aide to the Olufon of Ifon, Yusuf Adekunle, as having confirmed the incident, accusing Ilobu community of sponsoring the attack.

But the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Adegoke Ogunsola, rubbished the allegation, insisting that Ifon people launched attacks on the town, during which unspecified number of people sustained serious injuries.

Adekunle gave his own account of the unfortunate incident to the Punch, saying: “The deceased is Hon Azeez, ex-councilor. Ilobu people have made several attempts to attack us, and we reported to security operatives on different occasions. From the 13th to the 20th of this month, we’ve written petitions to the governor and also the security agencies.

“All of a sudden, in the middle of the night yesterday around 11 o’clock, we started hearing sporadic gunshots again. They started burning our people’s houses.

“As I am speaking with you, I can’t ascertain the number of our people they have killed already and I can’t even say this is the number of the houses they have destroyed. They threw a woman inside her house and set the house on fire.

“They affected areas like Akinponroro, Odo Oje, and all those border areas in our community. They even burnt government-owned primary health care in Akinponroro area.”

Chief Ogunsola gave an account of what Ilobu people allegedly went through on the day of rage, insisting that his community suffered severe attack in the hands of people he called hoodlums from Ifon.

“The truth of the matter,” Ogunmola insisted, “is that they started about five days ago, that was on Monday, to attack our people on the farms at Gbere Onireke, and Opapa.

“They attacked one Liasu Ishola who is a Baale of Opapa on Tuesday and they attempted to kidnap him from his house, but he called for help and the farmers around and the bricklayers who were helping him to rebuild his collapsed building rescued him from the hoodlums from Ifon Osun.

“On Wednesday, they went to Gbere Onireke to attack one Oseni Salawudeen and members of his family and one Prince Gbadamosi where he was working on his farm.

“He was shot but was lucky to survive the gunshot. We cried to the police but they said they could not go inside the bush and as a result of that, we mobilised our people to go to the farm to bring the carcass of the motorcycles that were burnt and they are currently at the police station.

“Very late in the evening yesterday, they went to Oke-Ebutu at Ilobu and started destroying peoples’ houses. Though we are seeing some security agencies now, they have not been able to curtail the spread of the clash. So, we call on security agencies to move in to stem the tide of the crisis.”

The dire situation caught the attention of  Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who directed immediate security operations to restore order between the warring Ifon and Ilobu communities, urging the peace committee to revive the peace deal.

In a statement, the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said Governor Adeleke enjoined the joint security task force to step in immediately and stop the clashes.

According to Rasheed, the governor decried the politicisation of the crisis, tasked the task force to go after the ring leaders, and ensure they face the full wrath of the law.

The Governor urged the peace committee to ensure immediate cessation of hostility to preserve lives and properties.