The recent clash involving the three aggrieved towns (Erin-Osun just joined) is very concerning and depressing on two fronts. First is the number of lives and properties wasted, and second is the ridiculous false claim made by the Ilobu Descendant Union (IDU) President, Pastor Olufemi Salako. It is indeed not a surprise that Ilobu people could cook up those false claims to garner public sympathy. IDU’s story circulating in the media is an instance of assailants claiming to be victims.
Ifon-Osun Progressive Union (IPU), under the leadership of Alhaji Muhammed Oyedeji, will rather choose to set the record straight rather than join Ilobu people and IDU to pester false claims in the name of wanting to sway public sentiments in our favour.
It is no longer news that His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke had invited the leadership of the three towns including Olokanla to several meetings in order to find lasting solutions to this unending clash. Another meeting with the Governor happened just yesterday. But who has been the saboteur of the Governor’s efforts? The people of Ilobu. Why? Because the lying and treacherous people of Ilobu will always be on the defensive.
The truth has always been there for people to see but their treacherous tendency will always push them towards twisting the truth and manipulating the unsuspecting people to sympathize with them. The most recent of their sabotage is backing out of the ongoing peace deal at the eleventh hour claiming that some members of the peace committee be removed. Having been carried along in this peace deal from the onset, they turned around to say that they would not continue to be a part of the deal until so and so is removed. Why? Because they presumed that such members would be biased and such bias would push them into unfavourable outcome. Ilobu people are the only ones who want people to take their side. Shouldn’t that suggest something shady in all their claims?
It is important at this point to let the public know that the same Ilobu begging for sympathy had fought with almost all their neighbouring towns. During Governor Aregbesola’s regime, they fought with Erin-Osun, not to even mention their perennial conflict with Olokanla. They even attempted to create disharmony between Oyo and Osun States by trying to cede a part of Orolu Local Government to Iresa Adu in Oyo State. Here we see Ilobu people again discreetly calling on Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Osun State. Is this not too much of Ilobu people?
Why IPU has decided to make this revelation is not to needlessly look for favourable public sentiments or glorify IDU’s falsehood but to liberate the unsuspecting public from the evil and manipulative rhetoric of Ilobu people, especially IDU. What are our facts and claims then?
1. We sought the attention of the Osun State Government on the continuous and unprovoked attacks by Ilobu warriors on Ifon-Osun, which started since 13th March, 2025 but escalated on the 17th of March. Disappointedly, despite several letters to the Governor’s office and security agencies, the violence against our people persisted, resulting in loss of lives of prominent Ifon Osun people, destruction of property, and widespread displacement.
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2. The latest attack occurred when a team of police from Orolu Division attempted to visit the areas where Ilobu armed warriors were hiding in order to neutralise a wicked attack on our people, but the police was ambushed by Ilobu warriors armed with sophisticated weapons. It was only by the grace of God that the officers managed to escape unharmed. This brazen act highlights the lawlessness and wickedness Ilobu has displayed towards Ifon-Osun.
3. During the attack, Hon. Azeez, an erstwhile councilor in Ifon-Osun was killed. A certain woman was burnt to ashes in her own house and several people suffered various degrees of life-threatening injuries in the hands of the daredevil Ilobu people. Not only that, valuable properties worth millions of naira were set ablaze.
4. Ilobu fighters had been consistently launching violent assaults on our town and villages before the recent attack, targeting innocent farmers, especially in Opapa and Gbere Odofin. They attacked our people on their farmlands, burned their properties, and inflicted injuries on many. This systematic aggression is aimed at intimidating and displacing our people from their ancestral land.
5. At around 11pm of the 20th of March, 2025, armed groups from Ilobu invaded Apiponroro, Odo-Oje and Ahoro Afin areas of Ifon-Osun, shooting sporadically, killing our people who were innocently sleeping, setting people and their houses ablaze. The following morning, our community woke up to another round of gunfire as Ilobu assailants rampaged the same areas mentioned earlier, destroying homes and shops, and attacking our people with firearms. Women, children, and the elderly have been particularly affected, with thousands displaced and businesses completely ruined.
6. Despite these relentless assaults, Ilobu people falsely claim to be the victims while continuing their aggression on Ifon-Osun and Erin-Osun. It is important to note that they attacked Erin-Osun just like they did to Olokanla last year because the people of both communities have always maintained that all the areas Olobu and his People claim to be theirs truly belong to Olufon and Ifon-Osun. They are just claiming ownership of what is never theirs and will never be. Isn’t this ridiculous and treacherous?
7. IPU therefor strongly recommend that the following people must feel the full weight of the law for constantly fuelling the embers of conflict and war in these towns.
i. Olobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, covertly directing all attacks on Ifon-Osun, Erin-Osun and Olokanla.
ii. Olori Bola Olaniyan, wife of Olobu allegedly buying and keeping weapons for assailants
iii. Asif Azeez, notorious thug
iv. Ola David, notorious thug
v. Isiaka Oyedokun, Baale Iludun, Ilobu
vi. Basiru Olubuse, Olobu installed Baale on Ifon soil
vii. Liasu Oganla, self-acclaimed Baale of Opapa
viii. Ganiyu Amunimorun
ix. Wasiu Oyebola
x. Mufutau Adebowale among others
7. We, once again, plead with the Governor to take stringent measures in order to permanently restore peace in these three towns, prevent further carnage, and make the perpetrators answerable to their evils. And more importantly, IPU enjoins IDU to own up to the public on the land dispute without pestering lies to stir public sentiments in their favour. That’s evil and unacceptable especially because every lie they tell has the propensity of deepening this crisis rather ending it. Ifon-Osun stands for peace and justice, but we will not stand akimbo watching Ilobu people violate us and destroy our properties at will.
Mr. Basit Olatunji
Publicity Secretary
Ifon-Osun Progressive Union (IPU).
