Gunmen
Tension gripped Ora-Igbomina in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State on Monday night after suspected bandits invaded the community, allegedly kidnapping a former customs officer and killing one resident during their escape.
The traditional ruler of the town, the Inurin of Ora-Igbomina, High Chief Sunday Fadipe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the attackers struck at about 7:00 p.m., heading straight for the home of their primary target.
According to Fadipe, the gunmen had laid an ambush and abducted the former customs officer as he was returning home.
“On arriving in the town, the bandits went straight to the residence of the former customs officer and abducted him,” the monarch said.
He explained that while fleeing through farmlands in the Akisa Area, the gunmen encountered a farmer working with a headlamp and allegedly shot him dead.
Fadipe said it was the deceased man’s 10-year-old son, who was with him at the time, that ran back to the town to raise the alarm.
“The police have been informed about the incident and they are on the trail of the bandits,” he said.
The traditional ruler appealed for increased security presence in the area, noting the town’s vulnerability due to its location.
“Ora-Igbomina shares a boundary with Ekiti and Kwara states,” Fadipe added, urging the government to strengthen security around the community.
Confirming the incident, Osun Police Command spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, told NAN that the police had received a report and swung into action.
Ojelabi said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) had visited the residence of the abducted former customs officer to gather more details.
Describing the incident as a kidnapping case, the police spokesperson said reports of a fatality were yet to be fully verified.
“The report that one person was killed has not been confirmed or substantiated,” he said.
Ojelabi disclosed that security forces were already conducting a coordinated operation to rescue the victim.
“Immediately we heard about the incident, our tactical teams were deployed and they have been on the trail of the suspects.
“We have a tactical team on the ground in the town, and with support from forest guards, vigilantes and local security personnel, they are combing the bushes to rescue the victim.
“The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, has deployed more tactical teams to the area, and the investigation is ongoing as the police are on the trail of the kidnappers,” he said.
NAN
