Gunmen have attacked Ora, a boundary community along Osun/Kwara boundary and abducted the Vice Chairman of the Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, Mr Debo Farounbi.
Farounbi was reportedly abducted in Ora around 10pm on Tuesday, alongside three other people by the gunmen, who shot into the air causing panic among the residents.
It was further learnt that the military men and local volunteers that were stationed in the town put up a strong resistance, forcing the perpetrators to abandon three of those abducted.
They reportedly went away with Farounbi after a heavy gunfight.
Some residents said the attackers shot sporadically before they went for their target.
A resident, who pleaded for anonymity for security reasons, during a chat with our correspondent said the gunmen had “successfully moved those abducted in the town towards the bush.
The resident said, “Four people, two Fulani women and two men including the Ifedayo Local Government Vice Chairman, Debo Farounbi were abducted. But the resistance put up by the military made the perpetrators to abandon three people.
“The however went away with Farounbi. Our people did not sleep throughout the night. We are in serious fear. The incident happened around 10pm on Tuesday.”
When contacted, the Osun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident.
“One person was abducted. He is a local government Vice Chairman, Hon Debo Farounbi. Immediately the incident happened, the military, police and others responded. Efforts are in place to rescue the man. It is abduction until we are able to prove that it is a case of kidnapping,” Ojelabi said.
Farounbi’s abduction is the third of such incident that will occur in the community in the last 7 months.
In December, 2025, a retired Customs officer, Emmanuel Owolabi was abducted by suspected bandits in Ora.
After spending almost four weeks in captivity, Owolabi was eventually released in a community in Kwara State following the payment of an undisclosed ransom.
Barely weeks later, suspected bandits invaded Ora again through the Kwara boundary on February 1 and abducted two other residents. They were also released after about four weeks in captivity.
Meanwhile, a cross section of the residents that spoke with our correspondent on the recurring incident of abduction in the community have called for stronger security presence to stop further invasion of the town.
A community leader, identified simply as Thomas, and a market leader, Mrs Alarape, in a telephone interview, expressed concerns that more residents may flee the town.
“People are leaving the town. And more people may leave unless some urgent is done to secure us. The invaders are coming through our boundary with Kwara State,” Alarape said.
