The Ifon Progressive Union, an umbrella physique for the indigenes of Ifon-Orolu in Osun State, has alleged that two individuals have been injured in a taking pictures incident within the Apiponroro space, purportedly carried out by people from the neighbouring Ilobu group.
Ifon and Ilobu share a historical past of communal clashes typically fueled by disputed boundaries, which have resulted in lack of lives and destruction of property over time.
Offering particulars of the most recent incident, the Secretary of the Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union’s Board of Trustees, Jide Akinyooye, disclosed that the violence erupted within the early hours of Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
“Gunshots have been heard in Odoje and Golden Gate areas of Ifon, resulting in the displacement of a number of residents. Two people sustained gunshot accidents as of the time of issuing this assertion,” Akinyooye mentioned.
He criticized the assault, describing it as a flagrant disregard for human life.
He accused the Ilobu group of escalating the disaster regardless of ongoing authorities efforts to resolve the boundary dispute within the Opapa buffer zone.
“This brazen disregard for human life is unacceptable. The Ilobu group has continued to have interaction in violent clashes, endangering harmless lives,” he mentioned.
Akinyooye known as on the state authorities to take decisive motion towards these liable for the violence.
He counseled the Olufon of Ifon-Orolu, Oba Peter Ipadeola, for restraining his topics from retaliatory measures and urged the federal government to undertake firmer methods to stop additional lack of life and property.
Nonetheless, Ilobu leaders have countered the allegations. The Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola, accused gunmen from Ifon of attacking Ilobu residents within the early hours of Tuesday.
“Our individuals residing in Ganga and Apiponroro known as to report that gunmen from Ifon had laid siege to the realm. These attacked had no selection however to defend themselves. At a gathering held on Monday, the Olufon issued threats towards us,” Ogunsola claimed.
He appealed to the federal government to intervene and defend Ilobu residents, insisting that his group has all the time been peace-loving.
“We urge the state authorities to behave decisively and defend us from these repeated assaults,” he mentioned.
The Osun State Authorities is but to problem an official assertion on the incident.