*Elerin of Erin-Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoloye
ERIN-OSUN COMMUNITY STATEMENT ON THE ONGOING COMMUNAL CRISIS INVOLVING ILOBU, IFON-OSUN AND BY EXTENSION, ERIN-OSUN.
Our attention has been drawn to an Open Letter to His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Osun State, written and endorsed by High Chief Jimoh Alade Ashiru, the Bara of Ilobu, on behalf of the chiefs and people of Ilobu, as well as a press release by the National President of the Ilobu Descendants Union regarding the ongoing crisis involving Erin-Osun, Ilobu, and Ifon-Osun.
It is deeply unfortunate that both publications deliberately misrepresent facts, distort the truth, and attempt to portray Ilobu as innocent in this conflict.
Erin-Osun became aware of the renewed hostilities between Ilobu and Ifon-Osun on the early morning of Friday, March 21st, 2025. Our community played no part in this conflict and remained peaceful throughout the day. Notably, the curfew and security measures imposed by the government did not even include Erin-Osun, further proving our commitment to peace.
However, later that evening, Ilobu residents began attacking our people, burning houses in disputed areas. By nightfall, armed militants from Ilobu had advanced towards Erin-Osun, strategically positioning themselves along our boundaries with the clear intention of causing destruction.
At precisely 11:16 p.m., I sent an urgent distress call to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, requesting immediate security intervention. Security forces were eventually deployed between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM, though they did not station within our town but merely patrolled between Erin-Osun and Ilobu.
Despite the presence of security forces, Ilobu attackers continued their violent rampage, burning down homes, looting properties, and displacing thousands of our people. Alarmingly, the soldiers deployed to restore order seemed to act with bias, intimidating our residents while allowing Ilobu attackers to operate freely. This partiality was further evident when security forces vandalized motorcycles and a car parked outside the residence of the Oluode of Erin-Osun.
As of the evening of Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, the damage inflicted on our community includes:
- The loss of one life, shot at close range by soldier that supposed to protect us. Several others were injured.
- Numerous houses along the borderlines and disputed lands burned down.
- Car and motorcycles were vandalized.
- Mass displacement of residents, with many fleeing for safety while those remaining live in constant fear.
While we appreciate the government’s initial response to our distress call, we urge them to take stronger, more decisive action to curb the aggression of Ilobu. Their expansionist ambitions have blinded them to the devastating consequences of their actions, causing loss of lives and destruction of properties in Erin-Osun.
Thousands of our people are homeless now while the means of fending and feeding themselves have become an herculean task, we therefore call on the government through NEMA and State Emergency Management Agencies to assist the community.
For years, our elders have engaged in dialogue with Ilobu leaders, even before the government’s intervention. However, all efforts—both community-led and government-led – have been deliberately undermined by Ilobu.
Finally, we strongly appeal to the Osun State Government to see through the Boundary Dispute Panel Initiative, which has made commendable progress. Abandoning this effort at this stage would only serve the interests of Ilobu, which will allow them to continue their aggressive expansion unchecked.
Chief Kayode Olawale
National President, Erin-Osun Progressive Union (EPU)
