Numerous residents of Ilobu and Ifon communities in Osun State have fled their homes due to violent clashes between the two towns.
Upon visiting the Ojutu Area of Ilobu on Thursday, it was evident that residents of both Ilobu and Ifon were evacuating the affected areas in significant numbers.
Furthermore, the state government was observed evacuating corps members who were serving in the affected areas. At the entrance to both communities, soldiers, Department of State Security operatives, and police officers were deployed.
A resident of Ilobu, Tajudeen Oyasope, explained during an interview that he had opted to relocate his family from the troubled area as the clashes had escalated overnight.
He said, “I am moving my family out of the area affected by the communal clashes. My family is moving out, but I will stay back to observe the situation of things.
“Fight got so intense overnight. We could not sleep. We were hearing heavy gunshots. To prevent us from being caught in the fight, I have decided to move my family out.”
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Also, a corps member, simply identified as Cynthia, in a brief interview, said “I am serving in Ifon and because of the fight, all of us corps members serving in the town are being moved out to another place.”
Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, while commenting on the situation in the two towns, said during the clashes, “They burnt a new patrol van of police yesterday (Wednesday).
“They alleged we are taking sides. It is unfortunate that the Monitoring Section van that was donated to us was burnt. Our four men are in hospital now, they were shot.
“The Divisional police officer of Ilobu was among those who were shot. He was shot in the hand. But thanks to God, they are all responding to treatment. They ambushed policemen when our men attempted to broker peace in the area,” he lamented.
Osun State government has since declared a curfew in the two local government areas of Irepodun and Orolu local government areas to prevent escalation.
