The Osun government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Ifon and Ilobu, in Orolu and Irepodun local government areas of the state, respectively, over ongoing communal clashes.

This is contained in a statement in Osogbo on Friday by Kolapo Alimi, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment.

The communities in the two local government areas have been clashing over a parcel of land.

Mr Alimi said the curfew was to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the hitherto two peaceful and law-abiding communities.

He said Governor Ademola Adeleke directed that the 24-hour curfew on the communities should take immediate effect.

“To maintain a lasting peace and order, pending when the issues at hand will be amicably resolved, Governor Adeleke, in his executive capacity as the chief security officer of the state, has ordered the immediate takeover of the disputed lands/areas by his administration.

“In the same vein, the government has ordered that anyone or group of persons found or seen doing one thing or the other on the disputed lands/areas will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Therefore, in strict compliance with the 24-hour curfew now imposed, there will be strict restriction of both human and vehicular movements in the affected areas and communities until otherwise directed by the governor,” he said.

The commissioner also said officers of the Joint Security Task Force, comprising the Nigerian Army, police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have been directed to be on 24-hour surveillance of the communities to ensure lasting peace.

On September 17, the state government imposed an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew on both communities.

The measure came after a communal clash between the two communities, resulting in a total breakdown of law and order.

(NAN)