Gunmen Abduct Retired Customs Officer, Kill Village Head in Osun Border Community

December 17, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke

A wave of fear swept through Ora, a border community in Osun State, on Tuesday following an attack by suspected gunmen who abducted a retired Customs officer and killed a village head.

The attackers reportedly invaded the community around 7 p.m. along Akisa Road, triggering panic among residents.

A retired Customs officer, Emmanuel Owolabi, was abducted in front of his residence, while a village head identified as Dennis was shot dead during the incident.

According to Owolabi’s wife, Titilayo, the assailants spoke Hausa, adding that she initially engaged them in the language before she was beaten and her husband taken away.

She said she had returned from her shop, prepared dinner, and was waiting for her husband when she heard gunshots close to their compound.

“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,” she said.

Titilayo recounted that one of the gunmen jumped into their compound, assaulted her, demanded money, and fired shots before taking her husband away.

“The next thing I heard was the sound of a motorcycle conveying my husband towards the bush,” she added.

The gunmen reportedly fled into the bush after abducting Owolabi. During their escape, they shot and killed Dennis, a village head who was said to be returning from his farm.

The police confirmed the incident, noting that the killing occurred within Kwara State jurisdiction.

Spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said security operatives were intensifying efforts to rescue the abducted victim.

“We are working hard to rescue the victim. More deployment has been made to comb the bush in the area,” Ojelabi said.

Residents of the community have called for increased security presence and proactive measures to prevent further attacks in the area.