Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has again imposed a curfew on Ilobu and Ifon communities, following renewed hostilities involving the towns.
The curfew is from 6 pm to 6 am.
The governor gave the directive on Tuesday in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi in Osogbo.
The commissioner said the governor had “approved that the 6 pm to 6 am curfew be imposed with immediate effect” following a “review of the security situation”.
“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.
“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.”
The two communities of Ifon-Osun and Ilobu in Osun state on Monday evening had a clash which reportedly claimed five lives and injured many others.
In October 2023, Adeleke also imposed a 24-hour curfew, effective immediately on Ilobu and Ifon communities in the Orolu and Irepodun local government areas of the state.
The imposition of the curfew followed the killing of a Divisional Police Officer and three other police officers during a communal clash in the area.
A police patrol vehicle and houses in the warring communities were also burnt by arsonists.
The deceased policemen were reportedly ambushed by some hoodlums who alleged that the officers were supporting one of the communities against the other.