Osun Governor Imposes Curfew to Quell Chieftaincy Rites Clash in Igbajo
The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, imposed a 24-hour total curfew on the Igbajo community on Monday, December 1, 2025, following the eruption of violent clashes between rival factions. The unrest was sparked by a dispute over the traditional passage rites for the late ruler, Oba Adegboyega Famodun.
The curfew, which mandates a complete lockdown of the town, was declared effective immediately to prevent further bloodshed and the destruction of property. Governor Adeleke condemned the violence, asserting that his administration would not tolerate civil disobedience capable of undermining peace in any part of the state.
In an official statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the Governor confirmed the necessity of the lockdown. "It is with deep shock and dismay that I received the sad news of the breakdown of law and order in Igbajo," the statement read. "As the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, I hereby declare with immediate effect a total lockdown of the town pending the return to orderliness."
To ensure compliance and restore stability, a joint security task force has been deployed. The contingent includes personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). They have been instructed to maintain 24-hour surveillance across Igbajo.
The violence was directly linked to the demise of Oba Adegboyega Famodun, the Owa of Igbajo. Trouble flared when one faction, attempting to commence traditional passage rites—which reportedly involved the closure of public spaces like the local market—was met with fierce resistance by a rival group.
Oba Famodun was installed as the Owa of Igbajo before Governor Adeleke took office. Upon assuming power, Governor Adeleke issued an Executive Order to review chieftaincy appointments made by the previous administration. This order led to the formal dethronement of Oba Famodun and the installation of another claimant, Oba Ademola Makinde.
The legal battle continued, and a State High Court subsequently overturned the Governor's Executive Order concerning Oba Famodun’s removal, complicating the official recognition of the stool’s occupant.
Though Oba Makinde currently occupies the palace, Oba Famodun's legal status was effectively reinstated by the court at the time of his death. This ambiguity—between state recognition and judicial reversal—turned the performance of his funeral rites into a highly volatile political statement.
