Gunmen have attacked Ora, a community located along the Osun–Kwara boundary, kidnapping a retired Customs officer, Emmanuel Owolabi, and killing a village chief.
It was gathered that the attack happened on Monday evening, December 15, 2025.
Owolabi’s wife, Titilayo, told Punch that the incident took place outside their home on Akisa Road, Ora, shortly before 7 p.m.
She explained that her husband had stopped by her shop after she closed for the day and asked her to return home.
According to her, she went back to the house to prepare dinner while her husband went elsewhere in the town.
Titilayo said she was about to serve food to her children when she suddenly heard gunshots near their compound.
‘When I closed my shop around 6:30 p.m., my husband came around and asked me to go home. When I got home, I cooked and was about to serve my children their food when I heard a gunshot,” she narrated.
“I initially thought the shots were from hunters who sometimes come around, but the gunshots became sporadic. Later, I heard my husband’s voice outside our fence.
“I didn’t know he was being held by bandits. I went out to check what was happening.
“One of the gunmen jumped over the fence into our compound. Those I saw were young boys. I knelt down and spoke Hausa to him because they were speaking Hausa. Instead of responding, he started beating me.
“He asked me for money. While all this was going on, they were firing shots. The next thing I heard was the sound of a motorcycle conveying my husband towards the bush.
“The two gunmen in our compound then jumped over the fence into the bush and fled. My husband is a retired Customs officer. People should help us bring him back home safely.”
Residents of the community also said that as the gunmen fled, they shot and killed a village chief identified simply as Dennis, who was on his way back from his farm.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said security operatives had been deployed to search the surrounding bushes.
“Immediately the incident happened yesterday, police operatives and other volunteers chased after the gunmen.
“We are working hard to rescue the victim. One person was shot, but not within Osun. Where they killed him falls within Kwara State,” he said. .
KanyiDaily recently reported how suspected bandits attacked a church in Kogi State and kidnapped many worshippers.
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