The communal crisis between Ifon and Ilobu communities in Osun State has claimed another life, as a student of Westland Polytechnic, Ilobu, was reportedly shot dead on Thursday. The Osun State Government declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in response to the escalating violence.
According to Olufemi Salako, the National President of the Ilobu-Asake Development Union, the tragic incident occurred around 11 a.m. when armed individuals, allegedly from Ifon-Osun, invaded the Ganga and Oke-Ima areas of Ilobu.
“The people of Ilobu hereby use this medium to report to the Osun State Government, Security Agencies, and the world at large that hoodlums and invaders from Ifon-Osun have today, Thursday, 16th January, killed a student of the Department of Computer Science, Westland Polytechnic, Ilobu,” Salako stated.
He added:
“The attackers this afternoon shot an innocent and harmless student of the Polytechnic located in the Oke-Ima area of Ilobu. The armed-to-the-teeth hoodlums stormed Ganga and Oke-Ima on Thursday morning at around 11 a.m. and started shooting at every living and non-living object in sight. The student, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, is one of their victims.”
Salako further alleged that the invaders targeted inner streets of Ilobu, including areas near the palace of the Olobu of Ilobu. He called on the Osun State Government to hold the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Ipadeola, accountable for the violence.
In contrast, the Secretary of the Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union, Jide Akinyooye, denied these allegations.
“They are not being truthful. We didn’t go to their town. Hoodlums sent from Ilobu today seized and destroyed three motorcycles belonging to Ifon people. Our people in Ifon didn’t go to Ilobu to attack anyone,” Akinyooye said.
He urged security agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly.
Efforts to get a statement from the Osun State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, went unanswered.
The ongoing conflict has caused significant loss of life and property, leaving many displaced and heightening tensions in the region. Security forces remain on high alert to prevent further casualties.
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