The Vice Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, Debo Farounbi, has been abducted by armed men following an attack on Ora, a community located along the Osun-Kwara boundary.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Tuesday when the assailants reportedly stormed the town, firing gunshots into the air and causing panic among residents.
According to local sources, the gunmen initially abducted four people, including Farounbi and two Fulani women. However, a swift response from security personnel and local vigilantes forced the attackers to abandon three of the victims during a fierce exchange of gunfire.
A resident, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, said the community endured a sleepless night following the attack.
“The gunmen took away four people, including the vice chairman. But because of the resistance from the military and local volunteers, they left three of the victims behind and escaped with only Farounbi. People are living in fear because of the recurring attacks,” the resident said.
The source added that the attackers attempted to move their captives through nearby forests before security forces intervened.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said security agencies had launched efforts to secure the victim’s release.
“One person was taken away during the attack, and that person is the Vice Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government, Hon. Debo Farounbi. Security personnel, including the military and police, responded immediately. Efforts are ongoing to rescue him. At this stage, we are treating it as an abduction pending further investigation,” Ojelabi stated.
The latest incident has heightened concerns among residents, who say attacks in the community have become increasingly frequent.
Farounbi’s abduction marks the third reported kidnapping incident in Ora within the last seven months. In December 2025, retired Customs officer Emmanuel Owolabi was kidnapped in the town and reportedly spent nearly four weeks in captivity before regaining freedom after a ransom was paid.
Similarly, in February this year, armed men invaded the community and abducted two residents, who were later released after weeks in captivity.
Community leaders have called on security authorities to strengthen surveillance and deploy more personnel to the area to prevent further attacks.
A community leader, identified as Thomas, expressed concern over the growing insecurity, while a market leader, Mrs. Alarape, warned that residents were beginning to relocate for fear of being targeted.
“People are leaving the town because they no longer feel safe. Unless urgent measures are taken, more residents may move away. Most of these attackers appear to be entering through the boundary area linking our community with Kwara State,” Alarape said.
Residents are now urging both the Osun and federal governments to intensify security operations in the border communities to curb the rising wave of abductions and restore confidence among the people.
