Four Killed as Hoodlums Abduct Five in Ogun

Tragedy struck in Oke Irinja, Owode Yewa, Ogun State, as four individuals were reportedly killed while one miraculously escaped death during an abduction incident. The victims, identified as Adamu Saliu, Aliu Babuga, Dairu Salihu, and Mohammed Abdulai, fell prey to unknown assailants on Saturday, according to reports gathered by PUNCH Metro.

A police source exclusively disclosed that the four herders were abducted in a bush within the community. Subsequently, their lifeless bodies were discovered with ropes tightly bound around their necks in a bush along Sokoto Road in Ilobi via Owode Yewa.

An eyewitness, Saliu Amodu, who claimed to be a sibling of the victims, recounted to the Owode Yewa Divisional Police Headquarters the harrowing ordeal. Amodu revealed that the five abductees, along with their cattle, were lured into a vehicle by unknown individuals who purportedly claimed that a chief in the community wanted to meet them.

However, the purported call turned out to be a ruse, leading to the tragic outcome. Amodu informed the police that after boarding the vehicle, they were transported to Sokoto Road, Ilobi, where the bodies of four of the five victims were discovered.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation has been initiated to uncover the circumstances surrounding the abduction and subsequent killings. The corpses have been transported to the General Hospital in Ilaro for autopsy.

While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, tensions have escalated in the region, particularly between herders and farming communities. Instances of alleged destruction of farms and water sources by herders have led to conflicts, with lives and property being lost in the process.

The Ogun State Police Command has urged communities to address grievances through peaceful means and to report suspicious activities promptly. Additionally, measures such as cattle marking and social media awareness have been recommended to curb incidents of cattle rustling and related crimes.

As investigations continue, authorities are committed to ensuring justice for the victims and preventing further violence in the region.