The escalating communal crisis between Ifon and Ilobu communities in Osun State claimed another life on Thursday, as a student of Westland Polytechnic, Ilobu, was reportedly shot dead.

According to the National President of the Ilobu-Asake Development Union, Mr Olufemi Salako, the incident occurred around 11 am when armed assailants allegedly from Ifon-Osun stormed the Ganga and Oke-Ima areas of Ilobu, shooting indiscriminately.

Salako said the killing occurred before the announcement of the curfew by the governor, Ademola Adeleke.

The statement partly read, “The people of Ilobu hereby use this medium to report to the Osun State Government, Security Agencies and the world at large that hoodlums and invaders from Ifon-Osun have on today, Thursday, 16th January afternoon, killed a student of the Department of Computer Science, Westland Polytechnic Ilobu.

“The attackers this afternoon shot an innocent and harmless student of the Polytechnic located at Oke-Ima area of Ilobu. The armed-to-teeth hoodlums stormed Ganga and Oke-Ima on Thursday morning around 11 am and started shooting at every living and non-living object sighted by them and the student, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, is one of their victims.

“For emphasis, Oke-Ima is less than two kilometres from the Palace of Olobu of Ilobu and the community houses eminent personalities, including the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yusuff. This is to show that the invaders knowingly entered into the inner streets of Ilobu,” it said.

Calling on the Osun State Government to immediately summon Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Ipadeola, to answer for the killings and destruction of properties perpetrated, Salako said the patience and endurance of the Ilobu community was being stretched to breaking point.

When contacted for reaction, Secretary of the Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union, Jide Akinyooye, dismissed the allegations, saying hoodlums from Ilobu had seized and destroyed three motorcycles belonging to residents of Ifon.

“They are not being truthful. We didn’t go to their town. Hoodlums sent from Ilobu today seized and destroyed 3 motorcycles belonging to Ifon people. Our people in Ifon didn’t go to Ilobu to attack anyone.

“Security agencies should look into the allegations with a view to arresting the perpetrators. For emphasis’ sake, I can tell you that we didn’t attack or shoot anyone. Hoodlums from Ilobu should be asked questions regarding whatever incident that happened,” Akinyooye said.

Efforts to obtain a statement from the Osun State Police Command proved unsuccessful as calls to the Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, went unanswered.

A response to a text message sent to her was still pending at the time of this report. (The PUNCH)