Communal clash: Adeleke orders seizure of disputed land in Osun

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered the seizure of the disputed land between Ilobu and Ifon communities in Orolu and Irepodun Local Government Areas of the state.

Adeleke, who gave the order in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the “Ipade Imole” programme in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Thursday, said the seizure was to ensure peaceful negotiation.

The governor said he had obtained the assurances of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, to ensure that all the agents of violence were brought to book and peace returned to the warring communities.

He stated: “The joint task force will descend heavily on any agent of violence and I will not allow anyone to kill my people.

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“Also, anyone found on that disputed land will be dealt with.”

Governor Adeleke, who said security is key to development and growth, stressed that violence would scare potential investors away.

Adeleke, however, called on traditional rulers and community leaders to call their subjects to order, adding: “The deployment of military personnel will be a punitive measure to any of the two communities who failed to allow for peaceful resolution of the problem.”

He also admonished the warring communities to allow peace to reign for the development and growth of the state.

The Osun State Government had, on September 17, imposed an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew on the two communities.

The measure came in the wake of a communal clash between the two communities, resulting in a total breakdown of law and order.

The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, who announced the curfew in a statement, said the measure would be observed between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Alimi stated that the measure became necessary in order to enforce law and order in the two communities.

The Star