The Osun State Government has imposed an emergency 24-hour curfew on the Igbajo community in Boluwaduro Local Government following escalating disturbances linked to ongoing traditional leadership disputes and renewed tensions after the recent passing of Prince Adegboyega Famodun.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, in a directive issued early Monday, ordered a full lockdown of the town, citing a breakdown of public order that began on Sunday night. The government said security agencies have been instructed to enforce round-the-clock surveillance to prevent further escalation.
In a statement released by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the administration condemned the violence, describing it as a threat to the state’s fragile peace architecture. The government stressed that it will not tolerate any attempt by individuals or groups to exploit communal tensions or undermine lawful authority.
The unrest is unfolding against a backdrop of a complex kingship dispute.
Prince Famodun — a former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress and the embattled 30th Owa of Igbajo — died last Friday at the age of 67. His status in the community had been the subject of litigation and political contention.
He was installed as monarch in late 2022 under the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The Adeleke administration later set aside his installation through an executive order, replacing him with Oba Ademola Makinde.
In January 2025, the Osun State High Court reversed the government’s action and reinstated Famodun as the legitimate monarch.
The combination of his death and the unresolved legal disputes appears to have rekindled old tensions, prompting security concerns and the government’s swift emergency response.
Governor Adeleke described the situation as unacceptable and emphasized his constitutional obligation as the state’s Chief Security Officer. He warned that anyone involved in inciting or sustaining the crisis would be held liable under the law. The governor reiterated that peace, due process, and lawful dispute resolution remain the only acceptable pathways in the state.
Security agencies—including the Police, Army, DSS, and NSCDC—have been directed to fully enforce the curfew until the government confirms that normalcy has been restored.
The situation in Igbajo highlights the recurring intersection of traditional leadership disputes, political influence, and judicial intervention in many Nigerian communities. It also raises questions about how state governments navigate executive powers, court rulings, and local sentiment in managing chieftaincy matters.
