Controversies over the burial rites for the 30th Owa of Igbajo, Oba Adegboyega Famodun, turned bloody on Monday as people opposed to observance of passage rites for him clashed with those that wanted honour befitting a royal father for the deceased.
In the fracas that occurred inside Iloro Market in Igbajo, on Monday, one man identified simply as Ifa was injured, while two other people reportedly sustained bruises.
The state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Igbajo, amid protest, over Famodun’s death.
The PUNCH reports that a statement signed by Prince Adekunle Famodun on behalf of the family obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, said Famodun “passed away on Friday, November 28, 2025, after a brief illness,” at the age of 67.
“As you may recall, Oba Adegboyega Famodun was installed and presented with the staff of office on November 24, 2022, by the former Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola.
“Although his position was disputed by a white paper issued by Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State High Court reinstated him on January 30, 2025,” the statement read partly.
Before his appointment and installation as monarch, Oba Famodun had served as the Osun State chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
The PUNCH also reported on March 12, 2024, that Osun State Government approved the appointment of Prince Ademola Makinde as the new Owa of Igbajo, replacing Famodun.
But violent clashes erupted in the town when those believed to be loyal to late Famodun demanded that Iloro Market be shut in his honour.
But those opposed to the move, reportedly resisted the attempt to force some traders that opened for business to close shop.
In some of the video footages of the protest shared by a Facebook user, Taiwo Olaore, on Monday, unrest was observed in a market place, with some people demanding that the traders that opened for business, should shut down, as a mark of respect for the deceased.
Also, in the video, some women in white attire, bearing leave, rebuked the traders that opened for business and asked them to immediately close, and mourn the late Famodun.
Speaking further on the crises, a resident of Igbajo, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said “they wanted to do burial rite for Oba Famodun but another set of people insisted that the late monarch was a prince and not a king.
“In order to perform the rite, the Iloro market must be shut for three market days.
It was in the process of closing the market that the group opposed to the move mobilised to the market and insisted that they must close it.
“Three people were injured during the clash that occurred at the market. One of them is known as Ifa. His pictures with blood stained clothes circulated on the social media. The market was later shut,” he said.
Asked if the burial rites were being observed despite the curfew imposed by the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, he said “The burial rites are ongoing. Although people didn’t come out after the governor declared a curfew but those performing the rites carried on with their duties alongside supporters of the late monarch.”
He also said there was massive deployment of security personnel to the town to prevent breakdown of law and order.
When contacted for update on the security situation in Igbajo, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said one person was injured in the fracas that occurred in the town early on Monday, noting that normalcy has returned to the community.
“Our personnel are on the ground, but as of this morning when I communicated, no arrest has been made. Igbajo community is now peaceful. One person got injured during the clash,” Ojelabi said.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Adeleke, on Monday imposed 24-hour curfew on the town.
Adeleke, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, further said the curfew which, “Is with immediate effect until total peace is attained, came about with the continued breach of law and order among the natives, a development which has been attributed to the demise of Prince Adegboyega Famodun, who died last week, Saturday after a brief illness.”
The governor subsequently issued a stern warning to the natives and non natives of the community, to continue to toe the path of peace and order, saying anyone found or caught in any act that has the tendency of further plunging the town into chaos, would be dealt with in line with the dictates of the law.
“Therefore, 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 and harmonious co-existence in the hitherto peaceful and orderly Igbajo town.
“With effect from today, Monday, 1/12/2025, a contingent of all security personnel, comprising the Army, Police, DSS and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence ( NSCDC), should take charge by keeping a 24 hour surveillance in Igbajo,” the statement read partly.
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