Kehinde Ishola
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Igbajo in Boluwaduro Local Government Area following a breakdown of law and order in the community.
The state government said the unrest, which began on Sunday night and continued into the early hours of Monday, was linked to tensions arising from the death of Prince Adegboyega Famodun, who died last week after a brief illness.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor ordered an immediate lockdown of the town until normalcy is fully restored.
Adeleke condemned the violence, stating that his administration “will not be a party to any untoward civil disobedience capable of truncating the existing peace and harmony being currently experienced throughout Osun State, Igbajo inclusive.” He warned that anyone found instigating or participating in acts capable of worsening the crisis would be made to face the law.
“It is with deep shock and dismay that I received the sad news of the breakdown of law and order in Igbajo last night till the early hours of today,” the governor said.
“As a government that believes in total compliance with the rule of engagement in ensuring peace and order at all times, my administration will not fold its arms to allow a breach of law and order anywhere in the state. Therefore, as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, I hereby declare with immediate effect a total lockdown of the town pending the return to orderliness and harmonious coexistence in the hitherto peaceful Igbajo town.”
The governor directed the Army, Police, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to commence 24-hour surveillance of the community.
He further warned residents, both natives and non-natives, to maintain peace, stressing that anyone found engaging in acts capable of further plunging the town into crisis would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The unrest followed the death of Famodun, a former Osun State chairman of the All Progressives Congress and the embattled 30th Owa of Igbajo, who died on Friday at the age of 67.