BY: SODIQ LAWAL CHOCOMILO
Sir, I write to you in regrets following the dessertation, significant property damage and loss of lives – a chain of sad events that shaped the renewed Ifon/Ilobu crisis. It is very sad that the recent bloodletting between Ilobu and Ifon has extended to Erin-Osun. More than thirty (30) people reportedly sustained gunshots with no clear figure of those who had died in the communal crisis. Over 100 houses have been completely razed to ashes with significant number of residents now internally displaced.
As I write to you, hundreds of residents including women and children who have been sacked from their homes due to the crisis are roaming aimlessly without being catered or responsible for, posing danger and threats to the state. Findings revealed that majority of these people do not even own a ‘comb’ because they have lost their properties to the crisis. These people include youths have capacity to commit crime, possibly leading to increase in crime rate if they are not found and catered for. I believe if these people continue to roam aimlessly, they will likely become bigger problems and frustrate possible plans to restore peace and sanity in respective towns.
Two years ago, I criticized your approach in resolving the crisis and feared the possibility of enhanced enmity between these warring towns which would escalate the crisis. I charged your administration to look beyond declaration of curfews, signing of peace treaty and formation of peace committee because I knew the matter had gone beyond boundary dispute. Unfortunately, there were attacks after curfews and signing of peace treaty which further affirmed my position that the state government has not been communicating either with the right people or language responsible for these attacks.
Sir, I find it disturbing that your administration still believes that the cause of this unending crisis and attrition is still boundary dispute because approaches embarked upon to resolve this crisis tow the same line of thought. Have you ever wondered why they still kill themselves and destroy each other properties despite several interventions? It is simply because the state government has continued to treat the primary cause of the crisis, overlooking associate causes. An age-long boundary dispute could not have existed alone as an entity. It surely must have nursed a variety of issues, misunderstanding and significant damages recorded by each party. In criminology, inchoate crime best explains the nature of communal crisis in Ifon/Ilobu/Erin-Osun.
Having critically studied the entire scenario, I clearly have no doubt that the boundary dispute has metamorphosed into war driven by revenge, vengeance and ego. This kind of war are always fueled by certain persons who either believe any town that tows the path of peace is weak and feeble or had recorded significant damage and resolved to make others pay. Sadly, there’s an unresolved land dispute to use as sentiment or interest in driving their agendas.
The age-long dispute between Ifon/Ilobu/Erin-Osun can not be resolved due to its nature, complexity and varying degree of damages recorded by parties involved but it can be managed. And this dispute can be managed through quick interventions via arrest, prosecution and punishment of sponsors of attacks. This propelled me in 2023 to demand for for arrest, prosecution and punishment of killers of one, Sodiq Alamu. Where are the killers of Sodiq Alamu? Where are the arsonists who burned houses in both towns? Did the police arrest any individual? Were these individuals taken to court? Did the police or Ministry of Justice through intervention of community elders or leaders release any culprits?
Whenever violent conflict is established, the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators would not console victims but paints a picture of detterence to minds of those who intend to do so. The police and the Ministry of Justice in the state must be conscious in establishing peace for warring communities through arrest and prosecution. When those who engage in violent conflict and their sponsors roam around the streets, we only tell others that they can also roam around the street when they do so too. We can not continue to offer political solution to violent conflict and be surprised at any attack which points to escalation.
Osun is a state deeply rooted in sentiments and interest. Only a tough, decisive and stubborn leader could rule the state in peace. Sponsors of these attacks are not ghosts. Perpetrators do not possess supreme powers. They must be arrested, prosecuted and punished. The governor needs to stand firmly on his position. He must not give room for persuasion by community leaders. There’s no better time to read the riot act for kings of the three towns; Ilobu, Ifon and Erin-Osun. If they do not know sponsors of these attacks, then they do not deserve crowns of their heads. The police must be duly responsible and work with community leaders to arrest every individual involved in this bloodletting. This age-long dispute can only be managed. It can not be resolved in total. To enjoy temporary peace, quick intervention such as arrest and prosecution of perpetrators is necessary.
If the governor is interested in rescuing Ilobu, Ifon and Erin-Osun from self-destruct, it is not too late.
Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo is an editor and a criminologist. He writes from Ilesa, one-time hotbed for violence and cult-related attacks.
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