Fear gripped residents of Ora, a community along the Osun–Kwara boundary, on Monday evening after gunmen stormed the area, abducted a retired Customs officer, Emmanuel Owolabi, and killed a village chief while fleeing.

The attack, which occurred shortly before 7 p.m., threw the usually quiet community into chaos as residents ran for safety. The assailants reportedly escaped into nearby bushes with their victim, leaving behind panic and grief.

According to the victim’s wife, Titilayo Owolabi, the abduction happened right in front of their home on Akisa Road, Ora. She said her husband had briefly visited her shop after she closed for the day and later headed elsewhere in the town, while she returned home to prepare dinner.

Titilayo recounted that she was about to serve food to her children when she heard gunshots at the entrance of their compound. At first, she thought the sounds were from local hunters, but the shooting soon became intense. Moments later, she heard her husband’s voice outside their fence.

Unaware that he had been seized by armed men, she went out to investigate. One of the gunmen reportedly jumped over the fence into their compound. She said the attackers appeared to be young men and were speaking Hausa. In a bid to calm the situation, she knelt down and spoke to them in Hausa, but instead of responding, one of the gunmen beat her and demanded money.

Amid the chaos and continuous gunfire, Titilayo said she heard the sound of a motorcycle speeding off, carrying her husband into the bush. The gunmen who had entered her compound later fled over the fence, leaving her in shock.

“My husband is a retired Customs officer. People should please help us so he can be brought back home safely,” she pleaded.

Residents of the community also disclosed that while escaping, the gunmen shot dead a village chief identified simply as Dennis, who was reportedly returning from his farm at the time of the attack.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said security operatives were immediately deployed to the area. He explained that police officers, alongside local volunteers, pursued the attackers into the bush shortly after the incident.

Ojelabi added that although one person was confirmed killed, the murder took place within Kwara State territory, not Osun. He assured residents that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted retired officer and restore calm to the area.

The attack has renewed concerns over rising insecurity in border communities, with residents calling on authorities to strengthen security presence to prevent further violence.