2.6.4 Osun

2.6.4 Osun

Osun state is comprised of the following 30 LGAs: Ayedaade, Ayedire, Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ifedayo, Ifelodun, Ila, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Irepodun, Irewole, Isokan, Iwo, Obokun, Odo Otin, Ola Oluwa, Olorunda, Oriade, Orolu and Osogbo. The capital city is Osogbo.1855

Most people are Yoruba; composed of Osun, Ifes, Ijesas and Igbominas.1856

UNFPA and the US Census Bureau projected the population of Osun state at 4 435 803 in 2022, based on figures from the 2006 census.1857

a) Conflict dynamics and main actors

For a general overview on actors in Nigeria, please see section 1.1 Main Actors.

A surge in gang-related criminality was reported among the main security issues in Osun state during the reference period.1858

In March 2025, the Daily Post reported on growing insecurity and a rise in criminal activities in communities along the border with neighbouring Ondo. The source noted that kidnappings and violent attacks in Ondo state had triggered fears that criminals would use the cross-border forests to expand their activities into Osun state,1859 a state with the reputation of one of the ‘most peaceful states’, according to a state official.1860

Several media sources mentioned incidents of lethal clashes between cult groups operating in Osun state, including the Eiye,1861 Buccaneers,1862 and Black Axe (Aye)1863 confraternities.

Reports on communal violence during the reference period included land disputes between Ifon and Ilobu communities,1864 and Ede and Egbedi communities,1865 a land and chieftaincy dispute between Esa-Oke and Ido-Aiyegunle communities,1866 and a state border dispute between communities in Lagelu (Oyo state) and Iwo (Osun state) LGAs.1867

A political dispute over control of the state’s 30 LGAs escalated in February 2025, when at least six people were killed in clashes between supporters of the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) (see below).1868

b) Security incidents and impact on the population

In the period 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, ACLED recorded 68 security incidents in Osun state, resulting in 44 fatalities. Of these security incidents, 26 were coded as battles, 18 as riots, and 24 incidents were coded as violence against civilians.1869

Security incidents were recorded by ACLED in 23 LGAs of the state, with the highest numbers documented in Osogbo LGA (10 incidents), Boripe LGA (7) and Egbedore, Ife Central, Ilesa East, Obokun and Orolu LGAs, each of which recorded 4 security incidents in the reference period. No incidents were recorded in seven LGAs. The All Progressive Congress (APC), unidentified armed groups and communal militias (coded as either ‘Actor 1’ or ‘Actor 2’) were involved in the majority of security incidents coded as violence against civilians. Incidents recorded as violence against civilians peaked in February 2025, with 11 such incidents recorded across the state, most of them in the context of clashes between APC and PDP supporters on 17 February.1871

These clashes were reportedly triggered by attempts of previously dismissed APC chairpersons and councillors to retake their positions based on a disputed Court of Appeal ruling.1872 According to Punch, the APC officials had been elected in the 2022 LGA elections, which were challenged in court by some opposition parties, among them the PDP.1873 Following the court’s nullification of the elections,1874 the elected APC officials were dismissed and replaced with ‘caretaker committees’ by the state governor, a PDP candidate. New LGA elections were scheduled for 22 February 2025.1875

SBM noted that two states, including Osun and Kwara (North-Central region), had ‘unexpected spikes in gang fatalities’, with 55 deaths in the period from 2020 to the first quarter of 2025, possibly because of gang members from neighbouring states expanding their operations into Osun.1876

Conflict-related infrastructure damage - The FIJ pointed to the destruction of power infrastructure in the context of violent communal clashes between Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osu communities. Weeks later, parts of the affected communities reportedly still remained without electricity due to the damage.1877 Other infrastructure destroyed in communal clashes included a primary health care centre,1878 houses and other property.1879

Road security - In November 2024, the police reportedly arrested a gang of suspected armed robbers who operated along the Ilesa-Osu Expressway.1880 In one such incident in September 2024, a bus driver was shot and a female passenger raped.1881

Displacement, movement and return - In March 2025, Punch reported on the displacement of residents affected by the violent clashes between Ilobu and Ifon communities. According to the head of the Ilobu-Asake Development Union quoted by Punch, more than 100 000 persons had been displaced due to the communal violence.1882 No further information could be found on conflict-induced displacement and no information could be found on returns in Osun state during the reference period.

c) State response in maintaining law and order

Local media sources reported on several arrests made by the police during the reference period, including of a gang of armed robbers,1883 and suspects involved in kidnapping,1884 cult-related murder, vandalism, illegal arm possession,1885 cultism and car theft.1886 Vanguard mentioned a joint operation of police and local hunters in the capital Osogobo.1887 Ten suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP members were arrested in Ilesa-East LGA in December 2024.1888

The Nigerian media outlet the Nation pointed in July 2024 to successes by Amotekun forces (please see section 1.1.2) but also quoted the group’s commander saying that the forces were ‘overstretched’ and lacked personnel.1889 As of January 2025, 320 men were operating across the state;1890 an additional 1 150 personnel was recruited as of March 2025. The Sun quoted the state governor stressing the need for close cooperation between Amotekun forces, police, Department of State Services (DSS) and all other security agencies.1891