Gunmen have again attacked Ora-Igbomina, a border community in Osun State, kidnapping two residents in a late-night operation that has renewed concerns over insecurity along the Osun–Kwara boundary corridor.
The abduction occurred shortly before midnight on Sunday when unidentified armed men stormed a private residence along Aran–Orin Road in the Papa area of the town. Residents said the attackers fired gunshots to scare people away before forcefully taking the victims into nearby bush paths.
According to PUNCH the incident reportedly took place during a temporary lull in police patrols caused by heavy rainfall, a development later acknowledged by the Osun State Police Command. Locals said the gunmen acted swiftly and appeared familiar with the terrain, using bush routes linking Osun and Kwara communities to escape.
A resident, identified as Mulikat, said gunshots were heard around 11:30 p.m., adding that some residents attempted to pursue the attackers but were forced to stop at the edge of the bush. She described the abductors as suspected bandits.
The latest attack comes less than two months after a retired Customs officer, Emmanuel Owolabi, was kidnapped in the same community, underscoring a pattern of late-night attacks and quick escapes that have unsettled residents.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the victims—Tayese Adeyeye and Sunday Adewumi—were abducted around 11:45 p.m. He explained that patrol officers had returned to base due to heavy rainfall when the incident occurred.
Ojelabi said search-and-rescue operations began immediately after the report was received, with security operatives combing surrounding bushes and boundary routes. Police sources added that patrols have since been reinforced in the area.
Residents have renewed calls for sustained security presence in the community, warning that repeated attacks have made night movements increasingly dangerous. They fear criminals continue to exploit the porous border and security gaps to carry out kidnappings with ease.