The Osun State Government has reimposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the Ilobu and Ifon-Osun areas, effective immediately.
Kolapo Alimi, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, stated that the decision was made during a meeting of the state Security Council.
Alimi further stated that the decision was intended to ensure long-term peace between the warring communities of Ifon and Ilobu.
The message added that “a 6pm to 6am curfew would be enforced with immediate effect on the warring villages beginning today, Tuesday, January 30th, 2024.
“That the Osun state government should set up a joint task force of all stakeholders in the warring communities, which should include traditional chiefs of Ifon, Ilobu, and Erin Osun with immediate effect;
“That a high-powered stakeholders meeting will be held with all traditional chiefs and rulers from the three communities with government officials and all security chiefs in attendance;
“That a contingent of all security personnel, comprising the Army, Police, Civil Defence, be deployed to the warring communities with immediate effect.”
Alimi also warned that anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or instigating any further violence, knowingly or unknowingly, in breach of lasting peace would be prosecuted in line with the dictates of the law of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has raised alarm over alleged sponsored kidnapping and attacks in the state.
The party chairman in Osun, Sunday Bisi in a statement on Tuesday also said the party was in possession of confidential intelligence from several caucus meetings of the Osun All Progressive Congress, APC) where issues of destabilising Osun were the center of discussions.
He claimed that,
“some unscrupulous politicians are colluding to launch a wave of kidnappings and communal violence to portray Osun as ungovernable and disrupt the ongoing delivery of good governance.
“It is strange that a few days after their evil meetings, Ifon/Ilobu erupted in violence again.
“A few days ago, APC operatives pushed for an uprising at Ikirun, Iree, and Igbajo but the people of the town rejected the ploy to mobilize them for violence.
“Now, we have reports that there are plans to start kidnapping people randomly across the state. Towns like Ile Ife, Ilesa, Iwo, Ikirun, Ila Orangun, Ede, and Osogbo are being targeted.
“We have briefed Mr Governor and we know he must have alerted the security agencies.
“We are using this opportunity to warn the opposition to be a responsible organization. Osun people abhor violence. They want good roads, modern schools, and health centers. They want economic freedom.”
He also called on security agencies to rise up to the occasion.
Responding, the APC in Osun cautioned the PDP to stop hallucinating and brave up to the task of securing the state.
In a statement by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal on Tuesday, Osun APC said the allegation by the PDP was an attestation that the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration had admitted failure and lack of what it takes to provide qualitative governance.
“The State Commissioner of Police shall be doing the people of the state a lot of good if the PDP chairman is invited to tell the police command the identities of the fathom leaders of the opposition who were planning to destabilize the state, failure of which he should be made to face the relevant wrath of the law,” he demanded.