Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has announced a reduction in the curfew hours in Ifon, Ilobu, and Erin communities, which were recently affected by violent communal clashes. The previous 24-hour curfew has now been relaxed to a 17-hour curfew, starting at 2:00 PM and ending at 7:00 AM the next day.
This new curfew will take effect from Friday, March 28, 2025, and remain in place until further notice. The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the change in a statement on Friday.
The unrest began as a boundary dispute between Ifon and Ilobu communities on Friday morning, and quickly spread to Erin Osun the following day. In response, the state government had imposed a 24-hour curfew to control the situation. The violence resulted in casualties, the destruction of homes, and many residents fleeing to nearby areas like Okinni, Osogbo, and Ido Osun for safety.
Rasheed explained that the relaxation of the curfew was intended to ease the suffering of residents and allow them to meet their immediate needs. While the governor commended the cessation of hostilities, he expressed concern over a recent report of another killing, for which the police have made an arrest. He warned that anyone found responsible for inciting violence would face severe consequences.
Governor Adeleke also instructed the joint security task force to maintain round-the-clock surveillance to ensure strict enforcement of law and order. Additionally, he directed the state emergency agency to intensify its efforts in providing support to the displaced residents.