A sense of panic and fear has gripped the Ora community, located on the Osun-Kwara boundary, following a fatal attack by suspected gunmen on Monday. The incident resulted in the death of a village head, identified as Dennis, and the abduction of a retired Customs officer, Emmanuel Owolabi.
According to eyewitnesses, the attack occurred at around 7 pm on Akisa Road, Ora, Osun State. The victim’s wife, Titilayo, recounted the horrifying events to our correspondent, stating that her husband had visited her shop shortly after she closed for the day. While he headed to another location in the town, she returned home to prepare dinner.
As she was waiting for her husband, she heard gunshots at the entrance to their compound. Initially, she thought the shots were from hunters, but the gunshots became sporadic, and she soon heard her husband’s voice outside their fence. Titilayo attempted to intervene, speaking to one of the gunmen in Hausa, but he responded by beating her and demanding money.
The gunmen, described as young boys, fired shots as they took Emmanuel Owolabi away on a motorcycle towards the bush. The two gunmen in the compound then jumped over the fence and fled into the bush. Titilayo pleaded for help, urging people to bring her husband back home safely.
Sources in the community, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the gunmen also shot dead a village chief, Dennis, who was returning from his farm while fleeing the area. The Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident and stated that more deployment had been made to comb the bush in the area.
The police are working hard to rescue the victim, and an investigation is underway. Ojelabi noted that the village chief was shot in an area that falls within Kwara State, not Osun. The community is in a state of shock and fear, with residents fleeing in different directions as the assailants escaped into the bush with the victim.
This incident highlights the growing concern of insecurity in the region and the need for increased security measures to protect citizens. The family of Emmanuel Owolabi and the community of Ora are calling for urgent assistance in securing the safe release of the abducted retired Customs officer.
As the search for Owolabi continues, the community remains on high alert, and residents are advised to be cautious and report any suspicious activities to the authorities. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and the need for collaborative efforts to combat crime and ensure public safety.
Update: The Osun State Police Command has assured the public that they are doing everything possible to rescue Emmanuel Owolabi and bring the perpetrators to justice. The community is urged to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities in their investigation.
