Osun boundary clash: Ex-councilor killed, houses burnt as Ifon-Ilobu dispute escalates

A former councilor from Ifon Orolu in Osun State, identified simply as Azeez, has reportedly been killed as the boundary dispute between Ifon and Ilobu communities resurged into violence.

Although the exact circumstances surrounding Azeez’s death remain unclear, a resident of Ifon, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal, confirmed that he was pronounced dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, early Friday.

The renewed clashes between the two communities have led to widespread destruction, with several houses set ablaze.

Conflicting Accounts of the Violence

Yusuf Adekunle, media aide to the Olufon of Ifon, confirmed the tragic incident and blamed Ilobu residents for instigating the attack.

“The deceased, Hon. Azeez, was a former councilor. Ilobu people have repeatedly attempted to attack us. We reported the threats to security agencies and even sent petitions to the governor,” Adekunle stated.

He alleged that the attackers struck late Thursday night, firing gunshots and setting homes ablaze.

“They burned several houses, including a government-owned primary healthcare center in Akinponroro. They even threw a woman inside her house before setting it on fire,” he added.

However, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunsola, dismissed these claims, insisting that Ifon residents were the aggressors.

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“They started attacking our people on farms at Gbere Onireke and Opapa five days ago,” he said.

According to Ogunsola, a village head, Liasu Ishola, narrowly escaped abduction on Tuesday, while another resident, Prince Gbadamosi, was shot on his farm.

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“When we alerted the police, they said they could not enter the bush, so we mobilized to retrieve the burnt motorcycles from the scene. But later that night, Ifon attackers moved into Oke-Ebutu in Ilobu, destroying homes,” Ogunsola claimed.

Government’s Response

Reacting to the crisis, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, ordered immediate security intervention to restore peace in the warring communities.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor directed a joint security task force to intervene and halt further violence.

He also condemned the alleged politicization of the crisis and instructed security agencies to identify and prosecute the instigators.

“The peace committee must ensure an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent further loss of lives and destruction of property,” Adeleke stated.

The Ifon-Ilobu boundary dispute has remained a long-standing conflict, with previous attempts at resolution yielding little success.