The clash between Ifon and Ilobu communities over boundary disputes in Osun State has led to the death of a former councilor from Ifon Orolu in Osun State identified simply as Azeez.
Several houses were razed down during the bloody clashes involving the communities.
It was not immediately known how Azeez was killed.
An anonymous resident of Ifon, revealed that Azeez was confirmed dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, early on Friday.
Olufon of Ifon spokesperson, Yusuf Adekunle, who confirmed the incident, accused Ilobu community of being responsible for the attack.
Adekunle said “the deceased is Hon Azeez, ex-councillor. 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 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.”
But the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunsola, countered Adekunle and said Ifon people attacked the residents of the town, wounding many people as a result.
Ogunsola said many residents of the community were attacked by hoodlums from Ifon.
He said, “The truth of the matter 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 the 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.”
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed immediate security operations to restore peace between Ifon and Ilobu communities, urging the peace committee to revive the peace deal.
His spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, who revealed this in a statement said Adeleke ordered the joint security task force to step in immediately and stop the clashes.
The governor, who 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.
He further urged the peace committee to ensure immediate cessation of hostility to preserve lives and properties.
