The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered that the 24-hour curfew formerly placed on the two warring settlements of Ifon and Ilobu be lowered to 12 hours.
Following the recent communal clash, the state authorities apparently noticed a situation of near absolute peace and harmony amongst both populations.
The governor’s latest decision was based on a peace pact signed on Saturday by communities in Orolu and Irepodun local government areas, according to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on Tuesday.
The pact urged both groups to bury their differences and embrace long-term harmony.
According to the statement: “Governor Adeleke, however, maintains and re-emphasizes his earlier directive of taking complete possession by his administration of the disputed lands until the imbroglio is finally seen to have been amicably brought to an end by the natives.
“Accordingly, the hitherto 24-hour curfew, from dusk to dawn, has now been directed by the governor to be between 6 am and 6 pm daily.
“Based on the recent peace agreement signed by the Ifon and Ilobu communities of Orolu and Irepodun local governments, respectively, the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke is happy to state that the two communities are gradually embracing the need to engender peace and harmony.
“Premised on this, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the state, has relaxed the 24-hour curfew to 12 hours daily, beginning from 6 am to 6 pm with immediate alacrity.”
Gov Adeleke also ordered the Nigeria Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security personnel to resume their routine 24-hour monitoring of the communities of Ifon, Ilobu, and Olokanla.
The governor further warned: “Anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or instigating any act, knowingly or unknowingly, to mortgage the lasting peace being currently envisioned in the warring communities would be made to face the music, via necessary prosecution, in line with the dictate of the law of Nigeria.”
Comments