Gunmen on Monday night stormed Ora Igbomina, a border community in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, and abducted a retired customs officer from his residence. The attack threw the community into panic as residents fled for safety while the assailants operated.
The victim, identified as Prince Emmanuel Owolabi, was reportedly seized at his house on Akisa Road, Ora, shortly before 7 p.m. Local sources said the attackers had laid an ambush around his home and pounced on him as he returned.
High Chief Sunday Fadipe, the Inurin of Ora-Igbomina, said the armed men headed straight to the former customs officer’s residence once they arrived in the town. He explained that they whisked him away and then tried to escape through nearby farmlands in the Akisa area.
During their escape, the gunmen allegedly shot and killed a man who was working on his farm with a headlamp. The killing further heightened fear among residents and deepened concerns about rising insecurity in border communities between Osun and Kwara states.
The victim’s wife, Titilayo, said the attack occurred just moments after her husband visited her shop as she was closing for the day. She recounted that the abductors took him away in front of their residence, leaving the family in shock and confusion.
Security agencies have begun efforts to track down the kidnappers and rescue the abducted retiree. Community leaders have also appealed to both Osun and neighbouring Kwara authorities to increase patrols and reinforce security around the area.
When contacted, Osun State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that the incident had been reported to the police. He said the Divisional Police Officer in the area had visited the victim’s residence to gather more information and coordinate early response.
Ojelabi explained that the case is being treated primarily as kidnapping, while the claim that one person was killed was still being verified. He added that further details would be released after investigations and confirmation from officers on the ground.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger security along rural border corridors often targeted by armed gangs. Residents have urged government and security agencies to deploy more personnel, improve intelligence gathering and act swiftly to prevent further attacks.
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