Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The warring communities in Osun State, Ifon and Ilobu towns have reached a truce and have signed a peace pact to end their communal wars and live harmoniously together in the state, the state government has said.
However, the government added that the restriction on human and vehicular movement placed on the warring communities still continues while security forces continue to maintain law and order.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement on Saturday, berated the destruction of lives and properties in the two towns as a result of land dispute.
The statement said, the Ifon and Ilobu communities of Orolu and Irepodun Local Governments respectively have agreed to cease fire with immediate effect following a signed peace agreement to stop the communal clashes.
“Notwithstanding this cheering development, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun state in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the state directs that the 24-hour Curfew earlier imposed in Orolu and Irepodun local governments housing Ifon and Ilobu communities be continued until further notice.
“The peace pact agreement was arrived at during a stakeholders meeting held Friday night, between the Osun state government and the leaders of the two warring communities.
“The Otun Olobu, Chief Jimoh Waliyu, the Esa of Ifon, Chief Babatunde Oyetunji and the representative of the third community of Olokanla, Mr Bashiru Azeez, with two other representatives from each of the community, signed the peace agreement on behalf of their communities.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke commended the resolve by the warring communities in putting pen on paper to say ‘No To War and Yes To Peace’ in Ifon, Ilobu, and Olokanla communities.
“With the peace agreement reached, the 24-hour curfew should continue till a total restoration of peace, law, and order in the communities, must have been seen to have returned totally.
“Anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or saying anything contrary to the peace agreement would be prosecuted in line with the dictate of the law accordingly.
“Strict restriction of both human and vehicular movements in the affected areas and communities subsists until otherwise directed by His Excellency, the state Governor and the Chief Security Officer of Osun state.
“Officers of the Joint Security Task Force comprising the Nigerian Army, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and other security agents, as directed by His Excellency, are to remain on the 24-hour surveillance of the two communities to ensure a lasting peace,” Alimi added.