Traditional rulers from the Network of Kings in Osun State have condemned a surge in kidnapping incidents targeting the border community of Ora-Igbomina, describing the trend as a severe threat to both residents and traditional institutions. The monarchs, in a joint statement, linked the violence to the town’s strategic location at the intersection of Osun, Kwara, and Ekiti states, which they said enables criminal infiltration from neighbouring states.
The statement, signed by the network’s President, Oba Dr. Adewale Ojarotade (Alaa of Ila Ijesa), Secretary Oba Amuda Ajadi Adio (Olukotun of Ikotun), and Board of Trustees Chairman Oba Prof. Adekunle Okunoye (Eburu of Oba), followed a solidarity visit to Oba Johnson Adekanmi Abikoye, the Asaooni of Ora Igbomina. The delegation expressed concern over the community’s vulnerability, noting it has faced two separate attacks within three months.
According to Oba Abikoye, retired Customs officer Emmanuel Owolabi was abducted from his farmland in December 2025 and released after about a month. Two commercial farmers, Sunday Adeyeye and Sunday Adewumi, kidnapped from their homes in February 2026, remain in captivity. The monarch urged authorities to establish a permanent military camp in Ora-Igbomina to deter future attacks.
Oba Ojarotade acknowledged state government and security agency efforts to secure the captives but advocated for a shift from reactive to preventive strategies, calling for sustained security presence and intelligence-driven operations in border communities. Oba Okunoye raised alarms about potential information leaks within the multi-agency rescue team, which includes the military, police, NSCDC, and DSS. He stressed the need for internal scrutiny to improve coordination and prevent operational compromises.
The visiting delegation also included Oba Samuel Adeniyi Olaniyan (Edigbon of Èdéwùsì Ila Orangun), Oba Sikiru Olagbaju Akintola (Oluibeji of Bolorunduri-Ife), and Oba Bamidele Olufemi (Owa Akinfin of Ikifin). The traditional rulers reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with government and security agencies to restore safety across Osun’s rural border areas. They emphasized that urgent, coordinated intervention is critical to prevent further destabilisation in communities straddling state boundaries.
