Gunmen have abducted the Vice Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area in Osun State, Mr Debo Farounbi, in Ora, a volatile boundary community between Osun and Kwara states.
The incident occurred around 10pm on Tuesday when the attackers stormed the town, firing sporadically into the air and throwing residents into panic. Farounbi was taken alongside three others, but swift resistance by military personnel and local vigilantes forced the gunmen to release the other victims after a heavy gunfight. Residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers appeared to have specifically targeted Farounbi before fleeing with him into the surrounding bush. The Osun State Police Command confirmed the abduction, stating that security forces responded promptly and that efforts are ongoing to secure his safe rescue.
This marks the third abduction incident in Ora within the last seven months. In December 2025, a retired Customs officer was kidnapped and released after payment of ransom. In February 2026, two other residents suffered similar fates. Community leaders and residents expressed deep fear and frustration, warning that continued insecurity could trigger mass exodus from the town unless urgent steps are taken to strengthen security at the Kwara boundary. They called for increased military and police presence to deter further invasions.
The police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that investigations are ongoing. The latest abduction has heightened concerns over recurring insecurity in border communities in the South-West region, where porous borders facilitate cross-state criminal activities. Security analysts link such incidents to broader challenges of banditry and kidnapping that have spread beyond traditional hotspots in the North.
The development adds to mounting public pressure on both state and federal governments to address border vulnerabilities and protect lives and livelihoods in rural communities.
