Night of terror in Osun as bandits kill leader, kidnap resident

Residents of Ora Igbomina in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State were thrown into fear on Monday night after armed bandits attacked the community.

During the attack, the leader of non-indigenes in the town was killed, while a former customs officer, Mr Emmanuel Owolabi, was kidnapped from his home.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in large numbers, firing gunshots and taking over parts of the town for several hours. Ora Igbomina is located close to the borders of Kwara and Ekiti states.

The violence was mainly in Akisa and nearby areas, forcing many residents to flee their homes to avoid being kidnapped or terrorized.

People were later seen discussing the incident quietly, still shaken by what happened.

Local security guards and community vigilantes tried to resist the attackers but were overpowered because the bandits had more advanced weapons at their disposal.

Confirming the incident, High Chief Isaac Fadipe, the Inurin of Ora Igbomina land, said operatives of the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes were searching nearby forests to track the bandits and rescue the abducted former customs officer.

He appealed to the Osun State Government and Governor Ademola Adeleke to act quickly by deploying more armed security personnel to the area.

“We are living in constant fear, and we want the government to act fast to protect our people,” Fadipe said.

The Osun State Police Command also confirmed the attack. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Ojelabi, said additional officers had been sent to the community.

According to him, police officers and local volunteers immediately chased the attackers after the incident. He added that one person was shot during the attack, but the death occurred on the Kwara State side of the border.

Ojelabi said efforts were ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victim and restore calm to the area.