Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State have joined forces to address the lingering boundary disputes between their states, which have sparked growing tension and violent confrontations among residents.
Governor Adeleke revealed that he recently held a meeting with Governor Makinde to explore peaceful resolutions to the crisis.
The move follows alarming reports from the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, who accused residents of Lagelu Local Government Area in Oyo of launching attacks on several villages in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun.
Oba Akanbi identified the affected communities as Ogunajo, Eleye, Molamu, Paku, Ejemu Oja, Oloya, Arikese, Eleweran, Olofa Ogundiran, and Molafe. He urged both governors to rely on the 1991 boundary demarcation map, drawn when Osun State was carved out of the old Oyo State, as a basis for resolving the conflict.
Confirming the governors’ meeting, Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, issued a statement in Osogbo on Thursday.
“The two governors met during the week and resolved to take immediate actions, including a directive to the deputy governors of both states to meet and visit the disputed areas,” Rasheed stated.
He further noted, “Both deputy governors were also instructed to meet with community leaders from Iwo and Lagelu to foster peaceful dialogue.”
The statement emphasized that both leaders called for an end to the reported attacks and urged all parties involved to exercise restraint.
“Both governors called for restraint and an end to reported raids into each other’s territories by aggrieved parties, stressing the importance of due process and the rule of law in resolving conflicts,” the statement added.
The governors also pledged to investigate other unresolved border issues, particularly those involving Orolu Local Government Area of Osun and areas in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Despite earlier intervention from the National Boundary Commission (NBC), which conducted fact-finding missions to the affected areas, the agency is yet to release its final report. Stakeholders believe this delay has created room for opportunists to take advantage of the confusion for selfish or communal interests.
Reports have recently surfaced of fresh attacks in Iwo communities, while residents of Lagelu have also claimed to be victims of violence.
