The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has expressed serious concerns over growing unrest in communities located along the boundary between Osun and Oyo States, warning of a looming crisis if immediate steps are not taken by the respective state governments.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, the monarch accused certain individuals from Lagelu in Oyo State of invading and disrupting peace in border towns belonging to Osun.
He said that repeated attacks, including property destruction and threats to lives, could provoke retaliation if left unchecked.
Oba Akanbi cited a recent invasion of Oke Oba villages in Iwoland, where suspected land grabbers reportedly stormed the area, damaging public facilities and homes.
He claimed that schools were shut down as students and teachers were forced to flee. Traditional rulers also suffered losses, with some palaces reportedly set on fire.
He highlighted that key infrastructure belonging to Osun State, including a public school and a maternity center, were targeted during the attacks.
According to him, rooftops were stripped off, government buildings vandalized, and farmlands seized.
Armed men were said to have taken control of the villages, using weapons to intimidate residents while harvesting crops forcefully.
Despite these incidents, the Oluwo maintained that the affected communities have remained calm, noting that he has consistently urged them not to retaliate.
He condemned the use of violence in settling boundary disagreements, describing such acts as backward and unproductive.
Oba Akanbi reminded all stakeholders that the demarcation between Osun and Oyo was officially defined on August 27, 1991, when Osun was created from the former Oyo State.
He said those causing trouble are likely ignorant of this legal boundary.
He urged the governors of both states—Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Ademola Adeleke of Osun—to take swift and decisive action.
He emphasized that true and lasting peace can only be achieved if the National Boundary Commission’s directives are upheld and implemented.