No fewer than 30 residents have been shot in a fresh communal clash between Ifon in Orolu local government and Ilobu in Irepodun council area of Osun State.
It was gathered many more, especially children and women, have been displaced in the ongoing land dispute.
Several houses and shops were also razed in the attack in the early hours of Friday.
It was learnt indigenes of the town communities have been attacking themselves in villages and disputed land in the area before the fresh clash on Friday.
In videos on social media, the residents of Ifon under the aegis of Concerned Youth of Ifon Osun, Orolu Kingdom stated: “We can’t keep looking and be watching Olobu & Ilobu people’s burning our shops and houses in the midnight any longer.
“We, the Youth of Ifon Osun Orolu Kingdom, call on the state Government of Osun to hasten their steps and actions to short things out , we have been patiently enduring the brutal attacks and destructive behavior of Ilobu hoodlums for far too long.
“Our peace-loving and law-abiding king, Oba Peter Oluwole Ipadeola Ilufemiloye Akinyooiye III, Olufon of Ifon Osun Orolu Kingdom, has been calming our youths and advising restraint, despite the ongoing aggression from Ilobu.
However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to remain passive while our ancestral properties and farmlands are being destroyed and our people are being harmed.”
But the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola denied attacking residents of Ifon.
He alleged: “Since Tuesday, they have been attacking our people on their farmland like Agbere Onireke and Opapa. They attacked a chief with an attempt to kidnap him but he was rescued by farmers around.
“On Wednesday, they went to a farm at Gbere to attack on Nureni and Oseni Saluwudeen, burnt down two motorcycles which will reported at the police station in Ilobu.
“Yesterday, in the evening they went to a place called Oke-Ekutu, they destroyed all the houses and set one on fire. They went to Akipanroro, Ganga and Oke-Ayepe, they started burning and shooting our people. Mostly children and women were caught in this attack, they caught us unawares.
“Our children and women are displaced now, we are extracting bullets in the palace through local means, they have brought about 30 to palace for us to remove the bullets in their body, they are still bringing more. Children and women are mostly affected.”
Osun Police spokesperson , Akeem Adeoye, when contacted that the command has deployed personnel to restore peace and order.
He said: “in respect to resumption of hostilities in ilobu and ifon, the osun state command has deployed men to restore peace and order. thanks for your cooperation”
However, 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.
In a statement issued over the renewed crisis, Governor Adeleke enjoined the joint security task force to step in immediately and stop the clashes.
The Governor who decried the politicization 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.
The Governor who lamented the repeated breach of peace deals among the warring communities warned that his administration will take stringent action on the buffer zone between the two communities unless hostility stopped immediately.
The Governor is currently holding security and political engagements to find a lasting solution to the crisis which predates the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
