Some gunmen have reportedly abducted a retired customs officer, Prince Emmanuel Owolabi, from his residence in Osun State.
Naijaonpoint learnt that the assailants on Monday night stormed Ora Igbomina, a border community in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, and whisked away Owolabi.
The gunmen are said to have also killed the leader of non-indigenes in a community outside the Osun boundary after invading the Akisa Road area, where the former customs officer was kidnapped.
According to Vanguard, sources told the media platform that the gunmen invaded the community around 7 pm, forcefully gaining entry into Owolabi’s house.
The sources said the assailants fired sporadically into the air to scare residents before whisking the retired customs officer away to an unknown destination.
After abducting Owolabi, the gunmen reportedly moved to another area along the Oteere/Ila axis, where they attempted to abduct some travellers.
However, the travellers, who noticed the presence of the gunmen, reportedly ran to safety. The development angered the assailants, who opened fire on them, leaving several travellers injured.
Local security guards and community vigilantes were said to have mobilised to repel the attackers and protect residents, but their efforts were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the heavily armed bandits.
When contacted, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the abduction of the former customs officer.
However, the police spokesperson denied reports that anyone was killed during the attack, insisting that while the kidnapping occurred, no death was recorded in the community.