A former councilor from Ifon Orolu in Osun State, known as Azeez, has reportedly been killed amid escalating boundary disputes between the Ifon and Ilobu communities. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, but a local resident confirmed that he succumbed to his injuries at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo early Friday morning.
During the violent clashes, numerous homes have been reported as destroyed. A media aide from Ifon has accused the Ilobu community of orchestrating the attack. Conversely, Ilobu representatives claim that the people of Ifon initiated the violence, leading to several injuries among their residents.
The spokesperson for Ifon referred to the deceased as Hon. Azeez and disclosed that there have been ongoing threats from Ilobu, which have been reported to security agencies multiple times. He recounted a recent night of terror in which sporadic gunfire erupted, and houses were set ablaze.
Specific areas such as Akinponroro and Odo Oje have been particularly affected, with reports of even government-owned facilities being damaged.
Ilobu representatives have countered these claims, asserting their own community was attacked first, leading to retaliatory violence. They detailed a recent series of assaults on farms and individuals, emphasizing their pleas for police intervention, which they say has not been adequately addressed.
In response to the violent outbreak, the Osun State Governor has prompted an immediate security operation to restore order between the warring communities. He has called for the peace committee to revive their agreements and to work diligently to bring hostilities to an end, urging security forces to identify and penalize those responsible for the violence.
