The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has raised the alarm over rising tensions between communities along the Osun and Oyo state border, warning of possible communal crisis if urgent action is not taken by the state governments.
In a statement released through his spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, the traditional ruler accused individuals from Lagelu in Oyo State of forcefully invading and attacking communities within Osun’s border towns.
He stressed that these repeated assaults, if not addressed swiftly, could spark retaliation and escalate the situation.
Oba Akanbi described a recent incident in which suspected land grabbers launched a coordinated attack on residents of Oke Oba villages in Iwoland, destroying both private and public properties.
According to him, classrooms were disrupted, with both students and teachers forced to flee.
He also reported acts of arson targeting traditional palaces, including the complete destruction of Oloola Molamu Oyin’s palace.
He further noted that government facilities, such as a district primary school and a maternity centre owned by Osun State, were also vandalized.
The roofs of these buildings were reportedly removed, and the structures looted and set ablaze.
He alleged that farmlands had been taken over, harvested by force, and that armed individuals were still stationed in the affected communities.
Despite the provocations, Oba Akanbi emphasized that the affected residents remain peace-loving and that he has consistently urged them to refrain from revenge attacks.
He condemned the use of violence in settling land disputes, describing it as the action of the ignorant and uneducated.
He reminded all parties that the boundary between Osun and Oyo was clearly defined since August 27, 1991, when Osun was officially carved out of the old Oyo State.
He argued that some of the aggressors from Lagelu are not aware of this demarcation and are acting based on misinformation.
The monarch appealed to Governors Seyi Makinde and Ademola Adeleke to act swiftly to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
He said lasting peace can only be achieved through adherence to the reports and directives of the National Boundary Commission.
