Terrorists stormed Ora-Igbomina in Osun State late Sunday, abducting two residents and igniting a frantic police search.
Armed terrorists invaded a quiet residence along Aran-Orin Road in the Papa area of Ora-Igbomina, firing gunshots into the air to sow chaos among locals.
They seized Tayese Adeyeye, also known as Sunday Oyekanmi Adeyeye, and Sunday Adewumi, dragging the victims into nearby bush paths under the cover of darkness and heavy rain.
The attack unfolded around 11:45 p.m. on February 1, 2026, exploiting a brief lull when police patrols retreated to their base due to the downpour.
Residents, jolted by the gunfire, attempted to pursue the terrorists but halted at the edge of the dense bush, fearing for their safety.
One eyewitness, Mulikat, recounted the terror: “We heard gunshots around 11:30 p.m.
The terrorists entered a house along Aran-Orin Road and grabbed the two men. Some locals chased them, but they couldn’t venture into the bush.”
This swift operation left the community in panic, with many locking their doors and avoiding night movements.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command sprang into action.
Spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the abductions and detailed the response: “Our teams launched a search and rescue operation immediately after the report reached us.
They continue to comb the area, including boundary routes.”
Tactical units, bolstered by local vigilantes and forest guards, scour the surrounding forests despite the challenging weather.
Authorities suspect the terrorists, familiar with the terrain, fled toward the porous Osun-Kwara border, a known escape route in such incidents.
This raid marks the second major strike on Ora-Igbomina since late 2025, heightening fears in the Ifedayo Local Government Area.
In December 2025, terrorists targeted the same town, abducting retired customs officer Emmanuel Owolabi from his home and killing a local community leader.
Owolabi endured over four weeks in captivity before his release, reportedly after his family paid a hefty ransom starting at demands of N200 million.
Locals have repeatedly urged the Osun State government and security forces to deploy more armed personnel and fortify border zones to curb these incursions.
Furthermore, the attack underscores a grim pattern of ransom-driven terrorism plaguing rural Nigeria, where remote communities like Ora-Igbomina suffer due to inadequate security coverage.
As of February 3, 2026, no contact from the terrorists has surfaced, and the search persists amid growing community calls for swift intervention to prevent further tragedies.
