Gunmen attacked the community of Ora, located on the Osun–Kwara boundary, on Monday evening, abducting a retired Customs officer, Emmanuel Owolabi.

The PUNCH reported that the abduction caused widespread panic, forcing many to flee as the assailants disappeared into the bush with their victim.

Owolabi’s wife, Titilayo, told The PUNCH that the incident happened just minutes before 7 p.m., right in front of their home on Akisa Road, Ora, Osun State.

Describing the sequence of events, Titilayo said her husband had stopped by her shop shortly after she closed for the day. While he proceeded to another location in town, she returned home to prepare dinner.

She recalled, “When I closed my shop around 6:30 p.m., my husband came around and asked me to go home. When I got home, I cooked and was about to serve my children their food when I heard a gunshot.

“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.”

Titilayo continued, “I didn’t know he was being held by bandits. I went out to check what was happening.

“One of the gunmen jumped over the fence into our compound. Those I saw were young boys. I knelt down and spoke Hausa to him because they were speaking Hausa. Instead of responding, he started beating me.

“He asked me for money. While all this was going on, they were firing shots. The next thing I heard was the sound of a motorcycle conveying my husband towards the bush.

“The two gunmen in our compound then jumped over the fence into the bush and fled. My husband is a retired Customs officer. People should help us bring him back home safely.”

Sources in the community added that, while fleeing, the gunmen shot dead a village chief, identified only as Dennis, who was returning from his farm.

When reached for comment on Tuesday, Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the attack, noting that additional security forces had been deployed to comb the bush in the area.

“Immediately the incident happened yesterday, police operatives and other volunteers chased after the gunmen.

“We are working hard to rescue the victim. One person was shot, but not within Osun. Where they killed him falls within Kwara State,” Ojelabi said.