Communal Crisis: Gov Oyetola Reviews Curfew In Osun State

The Governor in a statement on Tuesday announced that the 24-hour curfew declared in Irepodun and Orolu Local Government Areas of the state has now been reviewed to from 6 pm to 6 am daily.

TrackNews Online recalls Governor Oyetola had declared a 24-hour curfew in Irepodun and Orolu Local Government Areas of the State following the clash between Ilobu and Erin-Osun communities.

This was made known in a press statement on Sunday titled, ‘Osun declares 24-hour curfew in Irepodun, Orolu’, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji.

According to the statement on Sunday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, the curfew was declared to quell the tension in the area following the killing of two people on Saturday.

However, with peace gradually returning to affected areas, the Governor has issued a new directive.

Oyetola’s new directive was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, titled ‘Erin-Osun/Ilobu crisis: Oyetola relaxes 24-hr curfew’ where he noted that the relaxation of the curfew follows a peace accord reached during a meeting between the Governor and monarchs of the affected towns and another meeting between the monarchs and the State Commissioner for Police.

“Following the peace meeting between Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the traditional rulers of of Erin-Osun and Ilobu towns, and with the return of peace to the affected towns, the governor has approved the relaxation of the 24-hour curfew declared last Sunday to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“Consequently, the curfew will now run from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am daily, and will subsist till further notice. Security operatives will therefore remain in the two councils to enforce the new curfew directive with a view to further maintaining law and order.

“As we all know, the curfew was never declared to inflict hardship on our people in the first instance, but to protect them and return normalcy to the affected communities.

“The State Government appreciates the monarchs and all the security agencies for their various roles in ensuring that normalcy and peace return to Erin-Osun and Ilobu.

“We commend citizens and residents for their show of understanding and cooperation so far.

“The Governor also enjoins residents and citizens to always channel their grievances to the appropriate authorities and resist the temptation of taking law into their own hands,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, suspected internet fraudsters known as ‘Yahoo boys’ on Tuesday morning stormed Ilesha/Osogbo road, Osun State, to protest alleged against the incessant arrest by Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

It was gathered that the suspected fraudsters went on a rampage by making bonfires on the major road and blocked the Osogbo/Ilesa road.

They also stormed the Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat, Ilesa, and made bonfires on the road, therefore halting the free flow of traffic along the busy road.

The protest action rendered motorists using the road to be stranded as no vehicle was allowed to pass. They alleged that the EFCC operatives in recent times arrested some of their colleagues in a hotel.