The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed that the 24-hour curfew hitherto imposed on the two warring communities of Ifon and Ilobu be reduced to 12 hours.

The directive is coming after the state government reportedly observed a state of near total peace and harmony between both communities in the wake of the recent communal clashes.

According to the statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on Tuesday, the governor’s latest directive was anchored on the peace agreement signed on Saturday by the communities located in Orolu and Irepodun local government areas.

The agreement called on both communities to bury their hatchets and embrace a lasting peace.

According to the statement: “Governor Adeleke, however, maintains and re-emphasises his earlier directive of taking complete possession by his administration of the disputed lands until the imbroglio is finally seen to have been amicably brought to an end by the natives.

“Accordingly, the hitherto 24-hour curfew, from dusk to dawn, has now been directed by the governor to be between 6 am and 6 pm daily.

“Based on the recent peace agreement signed by Ifon and Ilobu communities of Orolu and Irepodun local governments, respectively, the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke is happy to state that the two communities are gradually embracing the need to engender peace and harmony.

“Premised on this, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the state, has relaxed the 24-hour curfew to 12 hours daily, beginning from 6 am to 6 pm with immediate alacrity.

Gov Adeleke also enjoined the joint security task force, comprising the Nigeria Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agents, to continue their normal 24-hour surveillance of Ifon, Ilobu, and Olokanla communities.

The governor further warned: “Anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or instigating any act, knowingly or unknowingly, to mortgage the lasting peace being currently envisioned in the warring communities would be made to face the music, via necessary prosecution, in line with the dictate of the law of Nigeria.”