KEY POINTS

• Gunmen attacked Ora community on the Osun-Kwara border and abducted Ifedayo Local Government Vice Chairman, Debo Farounbi.

• Security personnel and local volunteers rescued three other victims after a fierce gun battle with the attackers.

• Residents are demanding stronger security presence as repeated kidnappings continue to force people to flee the community.

Gunmen on Tuesday night stormed Ora, a border community between Osun and Kwara states, abducting the Vice Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, Mr Debo Farounbi.

The attack reportedly occurred around 10 p.m. when the armed men invaded the community, firing several gunshots into the air and causing panic among residents. Witnesses said the attackers moved swiftly through the town before targeting and abducting four individuals.

Residents recounted that the gunmen’s operation threw the community into confusion, forcing many people indoors while others fled for safety as the sound of gunfire echoed through the area.

Shortly after the attack began, military personnel stationed in the area, alongside local security volunteers, confronted the gunmen in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

The security response reportedly forced the attackers to abandon three of the four abducted victims. The rescued individuals included two Fulani women and another male victim.

However, despite the resistance mounted by security operatives, the gunmen managed to escape with Farounbi after a prolonged gun battle.

Residents described the confrontation as intense, saying the exchange of gunfire lasted for a considerable period before the attackers eventually retreated into nearby forests with their captive.

Community Gripped by Fear

A resident who spoke anonymously due to security concerns said the attackers initially succeeded in moving all four victims toward the bush before security operatives intervened.

According to the resident, the entire community remained awake throughout the night as fear spread among residents following the incident.

Many residents expressed concern that the attack highlights the worsening insecurity affecting communities located along the Osun-Kwara border.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed the incident on Wednesday.

Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said security agencies responded immediately after receiving reports of the attack.

He confirmed that Farounbi was the only person still being held by the attackers and stated that efforts were ongoing to secure his safe release.

According to Ojelabi, the case is currently being treated as an abduction pending further investigation and confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the crime.

Farounbi’s abduction marks the third major kidnapping incident recorded in Ora within the past seven months, further deepening concerns about security in the area.

In December 2025, retired Customs officer Emmanuel Owolabi was abducted by suspected bandits in the community. He spent nearly four weeks in captivity before regaining freedom after an undisclosed ransom was reportedly paid.

Barely two months later, on February 1, suspected bandits again invaded the community through the Kwara border and abducted two residents. The victims were released after spending about four weeks in captivity.

The repeated incidents have heightened fears among residents who believe criminal groups are exploiting the porous boundary between Osun and Kwara states to launch attacks.