The ongoing violent conflict between Ilobu and Ifon communities in Osun State has continued to spread, reaching Erin Osun by Sunday.
As the crisis worsens, calls have emerged for the state government to establish Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to support affected residents.
The dispute, which initially stemmed from boundary disagreements between Ilobu and Ifon, erupted into full-blown violence on Friday, March 22, 2025.
By Saturday, it had extended to Erin Osun, prompting the state government to impose a 24-hour curfew in the affected areas.
Reports indicate that at least three people have been killed in the clashes, with widespread property destruction.
This has forced many residents to flee to nearby towns like Okinni, Osogbo, and Ido Osun for safety.
The Erin Osun Progressive Union has accused soldiers deployed to restore peace of taking sides in the conflict.
The group’s president, Kayode Olawale, alleged that troops fired at residents, resulting in one confirmed death and two others critically injured.
“Soldiers came in, driving our people away from their homes.
“And that was when Ilobu residents started setting fire to our houses,” Olawale claimed.
“This was not an accident; it was a deliberate act, and the soldiers did nothing to stop it.”
Meanwhile, the Ilobu-Asake Development Union countered these allegations.
They stated that hoodlums from Erin Osun had launched premeditated attacks on Ilobu, burning buildings and displacing thousands.
The union’s president, Olufemi Salako, condemned the violence.
He estimated that over 100,000 people had been displaced and damages had exceeded N2 billion.
As the state grapples with the crisis, the Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to take an unbiased approach to resolving the conflict.
The group’s coordinator, Sesan Opadoyin, stressed the need for security, justice, and reconciliation to end the bloodshed.
“No land or boundary is worth the blood of our people,” Opadoyin stated.
“We must choose dialogue over war and peace over destruction.”
The group also called on traditional rulers and community leaders to mediate the conflict and prevent further escalation.