The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has imposed a total lockdown and 24-hour curfew on Igbajo town in Boluwaduro Local Government Area.
The imposition of the curfew follows a reported breakdown of law and order that lasted from Sunday night into the early hours of Monday.
The curfew announcement was made in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on Monday in Osogbo.
According to the statement, intelligence received from the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Samuel Ojo, indicated that tensions escalated among residents after the recent death of Oba Adegboyega Famodun, the embattled Owa of Igbajo land, who reportedly died in Abuja on Friday.
Famodun was, in his lifetime, a former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State.
The disturbance, it was gathered, prompted the government to enforce an immediate lockdown to restore peace.
Governor Adeleke said, “The 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.”
He warned both natives and non-natives to refrain from actions that could worsen the situation and stressed that any person involved in acts capable of causing further unrest would face legal consequences.
The governor said, “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.”
He added that his administration remains committed to maintaining peace across the state and would not tolerate any breaches.
“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 the breach of law and order anywhere in the state,” he said.
Declaring the full curfew, Adeleke emphasised that the lockdown would remain in place until normalcy returns to the community.
He also described the measure as necessary to prevent escalation and directed security agencies to maintain a strong presence in the town.
“With effect from today, Monday, 1/12/2025, a contingent of all security personnel, comprising the Army, Police, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, should take charge by maintaining 24-hour surveillance in Igbajo,” he said.
He appealed to residents to cooperate with security operatives throughout the period of the curfew, urging them to prioritise peace and safety.
Governor Adeleke, while extending condolences to the family of the late Famodun and the entire Igbajo community, described the deceased as a dear and illustrious son of the town.