The police command in Oyo State said it facilitated a peace accord meeting between the Ito and Sando Aare local communities, situated in Ofiki town, over conflicting land-related claims.

In a statement on Thursday, the police command spokesman, Ayanlade Olayinka said the state’s deputy commissioner of police convened a meeting, following a directive by the state’s commissioner of police, Femi Haruna.

He said representatives of the State Intelligence Department and other relevant departments attended the peace accord meeting, held at the Police Headquarters Conference Hall, to comprehensively resolve the dispute.

“In a demonstration of its proactive and intelligence-driven policing strategy, the Oyo State Police Command successfully facilitated a peace accord between the Ito and Sando Aare community quarters of Ofiki land,” the statement said.

According to the spokesperson, a dispute arose between the two warring local communities over a tract of land known as Amosiko, divided into three parts, namely Ito, Agere and Sando.

Mr Olayinka stated, “This land was peacefully managed for decades under the late Oloto, tensions escalated following his demise in 2025.”

“Conflicting claims arose over mosque management, farming rights, and land allocation. Initial mediation efforts were complicated when one party opted to take the matter to court, undermining early attempts to maintain peace,” the spokesman said.

Stating the meeting’s outcome, the spokesman stated that conflicting parties agreed to the command’s directive to maintain the status quo until the court delivers a judgment on the case.

“Both parties agreed to refrain from encroachment on the disputed land, and it was emphasised that no leasing, sale, or unauthorised activity should occur without proper local or state government approval,” Mr Olayinka said.

“The communities also pledged to halt illegal mining or construction, and all participants signed a letter of undertaking affirming their commitment to these directives,” he added.

The police spokesman noted that representatives including Aare of Ofiki Land, Oba Adeoye Gbenga, as well as other community elders and leaders attended the meeting.

“The successful mediation underscores the effectiveness of the command’s intelligence-led, proactive policing approach, which leverages early engagement, strategic intervention, and collaboration with traditional institutions to prevent disputes from escalating into violence,” the police spokesman said.

Mr Olayinka noted that the success of the meeting proved the commitment of the state police command to maximise dialogue, lawful intervention, as well as maintain public order within the state.