By: Gbenga Akinfenwa
Date: April 26, 2025
A boundary conflict that dates back to the 1960s has resurfaced violently, plunging 32 villages in Iwo, Osun State, into chaos. Residents now live in fear, displaced from their ancestral lands, as alleged armed agents from neighboring Oyo State continue to wreak havoc.
In the heart of Iwo, Osun State, a deepening boundary conflict with Offa-Igbo in Oyo State has escalated into full-blown violence, displacing entire communities and leading to the destruction of properties worth billions of naira.
Over the past two years, thirty-two villages — including Paku, Ogunajo, Ejemo, Oloola, and Alagbede — have been taken over by armed thugs. These communities are now deserted, their residents forced to seek refuge in safer parts of Osun State.
According to local leaders, at least two lives have been lost, including a foreign farm laborer, while countless others have been injured.
The Coordinator of Baales in Iwoland, Chief Ademola Adegoke, blamed the violence on Oba Adeboye Salako, the newly elevated monarch of Offa-Igbo, and his son, Prince Akeem Salako.
They are accused of leading the charge to forcefully annex Osun lands into Oyo State jurisdiction — a move the Baales describe as “terrorism under the guise of a boundary dispute.”
Adegoke detailed how communities initially received police invitations from Oyo State, which they rejected, affirming that they fall under Osun’s jurisdiction. Shortly afterward, the armed invasions began — homes were looted, motorcycles stolen, and farmlands overtaken. Even public institutions like schools and polling units have not been spared.
Despite a court injunction (Suit No: H/W/16/2023) restraining the attackers, violence persisted. Adegoke lamented how the Osun State Boundary Commission’s findings, which reaffirm Osun’s control of the affected areas, have done little to stop the bloodshed. In some cases, villagers attempted to return to their farms, only to face renewed attacks, resulting in more deaths.
Chief Akinrombi Isiaka, Baale of Paku, confirmed fleeing his home for over two years. He said appeals to the Oluwo of Iwoland and the courts yielded temporary peace, but the assailants returned. Nine attackers were once arrested and jailed, but were later freed under controversial circumstances.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) claimed they were “victims of circumstance,” a position the Baales strongly reject, alleging political influence behind their release.
Another community head, Alhaji Ogunremi Olugbenga, shared how lands were seized and resold by the invaders, while farm products were looted and re-harvested by imposters. Schools in the area have shut down, leaving children without education. “They told me to pledge allegiance to Offa-Igbo if I wanted to keep farming. I refused,” he said.
Baale of Ogunajo, Chief Musiliu Kehinde, also recounted being attacked by men wielding guns. He emphasized that Ogunajo village pays taxes to Osun State, not Oyo, and houses public institutions under Osun’s control — further evidence that the land legally belongs to Osun.
With fear and hunger spreading, residents now plead with both state and federal governments for intervention. They demand security — not just police, but possibly military presence — and the urgent release of the official Boundary Commission report to restore justice and peace.
As the Baales, elders, and residents await judgment, their call remains the same: they want their land back, their peace restored, and the attackers held accountable.
Stay updated with NIGPOST for more on this developing story. Share this post to raise awareness and support the call for justice in Iwo.
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