The governors of Oyo and Osun states, Seyi Makinde and Ademola Adeleke, have taken steps to resolve the ongoing boundary disputes between their states.
The meeting between the two governors followed reports of attacks on villages in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State by residents of Lagelu Local Government Area in Oyo State.
Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, had raised concerns over the attacks and urged both governors to refer to the 1991 boundary map to settle the matter.
The traditional ruler listed affected villages, including Ogunajo, Eleye, Molamu, Paku, Ejemu Oja, Oloya, Arikese, Eleweran, Olofa Ogundiran, and Molafe, all under Iwo Local Government Area.
Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed that the governors met at Makinde’s residence in Ibadan to deliberate on the crisis.
The governors resolved to take immediate actions, including directing their deputy governors to meet and visit the disputed areas.
The deputy governors were also instructed to meet with community leaders from Iwo and Lagelu to foster peaceful dialogue.
Both governors called for restraint and an end to reported raids into each other’s territories, stressing the importance of due process and the rule of law in resolving conflicts.
The governors also resolved to investigate other boundary-related disputes, particularly the recurring issues between Orolu Local Government Area in Osun State and areas of Ogbomoso in Oyo State.
The National Boundary Commission has previously visited the disputed zones to gather data, but its final report has not yet been released, allowing opportunists to exploit the uncertainty for personal or communal gains.