Oluwo Raises Alarm Over Possible Osun–Oyo Boundary Conflict

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has raised concerns over a potential communal clash between Osun and Oyo states, warning that unresolved boundary disputes could escalate tensions.

In a statement on Wednesday, conveyed through his spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, Oba Akanbi alleged plans to cede portions of Osun land near Iwo to the Lagelu community in Oyo State. He called on President Bola Tinubu to constitute an independent committee of enquiry to resolve the matter.

The traditional ruler cautioned that failure to act swiftly could spark unrest in the affected areas. “There are indicators of a compromise to cede part of Osun State in the Iwo axis to Lagelu in Oyo State, a situation that may trigger another civil unrest,” he said, describing it as a threat to the ancestral rights of Iwo land.

Oba Akanbi noted that residents of the affected villages remain agitated following previous clashes. He referenced an incident in April, in which three people were reportedly killed during confrontations involving land grabbers from Offa and Lagelu.

He said the families of the victims approached him for guidance, and he urged them to seek legal redress rather than resort to violence. “I assured them of an objective report from the National Boundary Commission. They listened to my advice,” he added.

The monarch expressed concern over the handling of historical boundary documents, alleging that crucial records from Osun State have gone missing. “If documents are missing, the committee has a right to request copies from us,” he said.

Oba Akanbi stressed that the affected villages are historically part of Osun State, pointing to public facilities and polling units in the area. “The people of Iwo are the landlords of the affected villages. They have schools, hospitals, and voting units under Osun State. It would be a national betrayal to force them into another state,” he said.

He appealed to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene promptly and called on security agencies to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Reiterating his confidence in the federal government’s ability to address the dispute, Oba Akanbi emphasized that only decisive action could avert further tension and maintain peace along the disputed boundary.