The Ilobu community has urged the Osun State Government to convene another round of peace meetings between it and Ifon town, following an alleged attack on Ilobu indigenes in villages close to Ifon.
Otun-Jagun of Ilobu, Chief Leke Ogunsola, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, had alleged that many indigenes of Ilobu farming in villages had been chased out of their farms by Ifon people.
Ogunsola also said in some of the villages attacked by the Ifon people, farms and buildings were set ablaze by the attackers.
He said, “There is peace in the two communities now, but many Ilobu indigenes living on farms in neighboring villages have been chased out of their farms by Ifon people. They burnt their farms and destroyed their properties.
“Many of them have run back to town. We can’t access those villages because of water on the road. To get to those farms, we will have to go through Ifon. We urge government and security agents to invite us for another round of meetings.
“They will have to invite Ifon people too and tell them to stop the destruction of people’s property. They chased out Ilobu indigenes and destroyed their properties. The government should send a delegation to the affected villages to observe the situation. The affected villages are Oluode and Gbena.
“In Ologole village, they didn’t burn their houses, but properties were looted. An Ilobu indigene is the Baale of that particular village even though he was installed by Ifon people. There are other people trapped in some villages. No casualty yet, but properties were destroyed.”
The Secretary, Board of Trustees, Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union, Jide Akinyooye, who has been speaking for the community could not be reached for a reaction to the allegations.
But in a related development, Ifon community has accused people of Ilobu of destroying a house belonging to its indigene in Odo-Oje area of Ifon.
A statement signed by the regent of Ifon-Orolu, Chief Babatunde Oyetunji, however, warned against such an act, especially now that a peace pact has been signed by the warring communities.
“Therefore, we are restating the need for the Osun State Government to ensure adequate security cover for the lives and properties of our people.
“We are using this opportunity to appeal to Orolu residents to remain calm because there can only be meaningful development where there is peace,” the statement read in part.
Punch
