Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Igbajo, in Boluwaduro Local Government Area, following a breakdown of law and order in the community.
According to the state government, the unrest which began on Sunday night and continued into the early hours of Monday was triggered by rising tensions after the death of Prince Adegboyega Famodun, the embattled 30th Owa of Igbajo, who died last week after a brief illness.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, Governor Adeleke ordered an immediate lockdown of the town until peace is fully restored.
Adeleke condemned the violence, saying his administration “will never tolerate any form of civil disobedience capable of disrupting the peace and harmony currently enjoyed across Osun State, Igbajo inclusive.”
He warned that anyone instigating or participating in actions that could escalate the crisis would face the full weight of the law.
“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. My administration will not fold its arms and allow a breach of peace anywhere in the state. Therefore, as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, I hereby declare a total lockdown of the town with immediate effect, pending the restoration of peace and order,” the governor said.
Adeleke directed the Army, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to begin round-the-clock surveillance of the community.
The statement further warned residents and non-residents to maintain peace, adding that anyone caught engaging in activities openly or secretly aimed at plunging the community into further chaos would be dealt with according to the law.
Background
Famodun, a former Osun APC chairman, was installed as Owa of Igbajo in 2022 at the end of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration.
He was later removed through an executive order issued by Adeleke, who appointed Oba Ademola Makinde in his place.
However, in January 2025, the Osun State High Court reinstated Oba Famodun—a decision currently being contested at the Court of Appeal.
Famodun died on Friday at the age of 67, a development that has further heightened tensions within the community.
