Osun Imposes Curfew As Boundary Dispute Claims More Lives

The violent clash between the people of Ilobu and Erin-Osun in the Irepodun and Orolu local government areas of Osun State became more fierce on Sunday as two persons were reportedly killed.

The two communities have a long history of repeated clash over boundary dispute and a fresh violence broke out on Saturday. 

The state government on Sunday declared a 24-hour curfew in the affected areas in the  two local  government areas in order to curb the violence.

The statement by the state government read, “The declaration of curfew became necessary to douse tension in the troubled area. This will subsist until further notice.”

Our correspondent gathered that there were shootings between the two warring communities till around 11:am on Sunday, despite the deployment of the police in the area on Saturday. 

Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who appealed to the two communities to stop the violence, urged them not to destroy the heritage of peace handed to them by their forebears. 

Soldiers were said to have been deployed to help the police return normalcy to the communities, but a source said the soldiers could not go in as at the time he was there.

The resident, who identified himself as David, said, “Two persons were killed today. Give were shot and injured yesterday but none died but the fight has become more fierce .

“Soldiers were deployed but  they parked their vans at the entrance of the Erin Osun by the bridge. They were still studying how to move in. The fight is a serious one.  Vehicles plying the road to Ogbomoso have deserted the roads and people are fleeing from the two communities. “