At least eight people have been killed during a communal clash between Ilobu community in Irepodun Council and Ifon, headquarters of Orolu local government area of Osun State.
The Divisional Police Officer of Ilobu community was shot alongwith three other Police operatives over allegation that the police were taking side in the clash.
Several houses were also razed and property in the two communities destroyed during the clash that erupted two weeks ago, leading to burning of a palace at Okanla, forcing the state government to declare curfew between 8pm to 6am indefinitely.
However, fresh crisis started again on Wednesday following reports of attacks by masked gunmen on Ifon-Oba road leading to the death of one commercial motorcyclists, an Erin-Osun indigene while another from Ifon sustained gun wound injury.
As a result of this, Security operatives have evacuated serving Corps members numbering about 30 from the communities, while many residents of the two communities have fled their homes over fear of attacks.
Osun State police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola confirmed that the four policemen, including DPO who were shot are responding to treatment in hospital.
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered the seizure of the disputed land between Ilobu and Ifon Communities, both in Orolu and Irepodun Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Adeleke, who gave the order in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the “Ipade Imole” programme in Osogbo on Thursday, said that the seizure was to ensure peaceful negotiation.
He called on traditional rulers and community leaders to call their subjects to order, admonishing the warring communities to allow peace to reign for the development and growth of the state.
The State Government had on September 17 imposed an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew on the two communities, in order to restore normalcy in the two communities.
