Armed men suspected to be kidnappers have abducted the Vice Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, Mr Debo Farounbi, in an attack on a boundary community along the Osun–Kwara axis.
The incident occurred around 10 pm on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Ora community, a settlement located along the Osun/Kwara boundary.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers fired multiple gunshots into the air to scare residents, triggering panic as people ran for safety before the abduction was carried out.
The gunmen initially abducted four persons, including the Ifedayo LG Vice Chairman, two unidentified men, and two Fulani women, before security operatives arrived.
Upon arrival, the military personnel stationed in the area, alongside local volunteers, reportedly engaged the attackers in a confrontation, forcing them to abandon three of the victims as they escaped into the bush.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attackers managed to move some of the abductees deeper into the forest before security resistance disrupted their operation.
“Four people were abducted, including the LG Vice Chairman, two Fulani women, and two men. But the military response made them drop three of them and escape with only the Vice Chairman,” the source said.
He added that the community remained in fear throughout the night following the attack.
“We did not sleep. The incident happened around 10 pm, and there was serious tension everywhere,” the resident added.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said security agencies had already launched a coordinated rescue operation.
He confirmed that the vice chairman was the only person taken away by the attackers after initial intervention by security forces.
“As soon as the incident was reported, the military, police and other security operatives responded immediately. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim,” Ojelabi stated.
He noted that investigations were still ongoing, adding that the situation was being treated as an abduction case until further confirmation is made.
Security forces are currently said to be combing nearby forests in a bid to rescue the abducted local government official and apprehend the perpetrators.
The attack adds to growing concerns over rising cases of kidnapping along boundary communities in parts of Osun State and neighbouring regions.
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