Deadly ambush claims 12 lives, including community leader in Ifelodun
Gunmen on Sunday September 28, 2025 attacked the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing 12 vigilante members, including the Baale of Ogbayo and two of his children.
They also abducted an unspecified number of people, with several others injured in the deadly incident. The injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.
During the incident, the armed bandits in their numbers, reportedly stormed the community in the early hours of Sunday, targeting newly recruited forest guards, hunters, and vigilantes who were guiding the area among other civilians.
Residents said the bandits struck around 7:35 a.m., killing indiscriminately.
It was learned that a physician, Dr. Femi, popularly known as “Baba Gold,” and two others have been declared missing since the assault, which forced many families to flee into the bush for safety.
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The attackers were also said to have kidnapped four members of the same family before fleeing the area.
A local vigilante leader who simply identified himself as Ajetunmobi, accused authorities of ignoring early warnings.
“We heard since Saturday night that the bandits were moving around the community and sent alerts to the security operatives. Unfortunately, they still attacked, starting with the duty post”, he said.
The Kwara State Police Command on Sunday night confirmed the attack in Oke-Ode, describing it as unfortunate.
The command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement, said the incident happened at about 7:00 am at the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode.
“A combined team of police operatives and members of the National Forest Security Service responded swiftly to the scene, where they discovered 12 lifeless bodies of vigilante members, including the Baale of Ogbayo,” she said.
Adetoun said the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
“Also, four persons who sustained injuries were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment, while the deceased were evacuated.
“The Kwara State Police Command, in collaboration with the military and NFSS, has intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Manhunt operations are ongoing, and the command assures residents that those responsible will be brought to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, deeply commiserates with the families of the victims, praying for the repose of their souls. He assures the people of Kwara State of the unwavering commitment of the police command to their safety and security. Further updates will be communicated in due course”, the statement added.
A security consultant former Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, the problem stems from multiple, layered causes which include poor equipment for the police, an overreliance on the military, porous borders and ungoverned forests among others.
He warned that some of the affected communities are vulnerable because of illegal mining activities. He, however, said the people must come together to confront it, with the government galvanizing the police and all the other security agencies to do what is expected of them.
A security expert and retired DSS director, Dr. Abdulsalam Bolakale Suleiman, advised a multifaceted approach.
“The government must look beyond military raids,” he said, adding that “converting the forest areas into productive economic zones is key amid addressing deeper economic issues like poverty, unemployment, and lack of education.”
Culled from Nigerian Sketch