The people of Erin-Osun have appealed to the Osun State government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) supports for the victims of the communal crisis involving three communities, Ilobu, Ifon-Osun and by extension Erin-Osun.
The community ,in sn Open Letter signed by the National President, Erin-Osun Progressive Union (EPU),Chief Kayode Olawale also urged the Osun State Government to revamp the Boundary Dispute Panel Initiative inorder to find a lasting solution to the recurrent communal crisis .
The Erin -Osun also described the Open Letter earlier sent to the State Government by the Ilobu community stakeholders as one that “deliberately misrepresents facts, distorts the truth, and attempt to portray Ilobu as innocent in this conflict”
According to the letter ,the community lost properties worth billions of naira along the borderlines and disputed lands .
Giving the Erin-Osun Community’s account of the crisis, Chief Olawale said
“Erin-Osun became aware of the renewed hostilities between Ilobu and Ifon-Osun on the early morning of Friday, March 21, 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.
“Thousands of our people are homeless now while the means of fending and feeding themselves have become a 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.”