Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Hon. Moruf (Musa) Moruf, a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, during an attack at a mosque inside his residence in Ibiade, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, authorities and eyewitnesses confirmed Wednesday. The incident has sparked fresh alarm about insecurity in rural and coastal communities, where armed abductions and violent raids have grown increasingly brazen.
The abduction occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, while the ex‑lawmaker was performing evening Muslim prayers inside a mosque located within his compound, sources told reporters. Witnesses said the assailants fired sporadically into the air to scatter bystanders and create panic before overpowering the former legislator.
Confirming the kidnapping, Ganiyu Odunoiki, Chairman of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, said the attack happened during prayer hours and that the gunmen fled the scene with the victim. He added that shots were also fired along nearby roads as the assailants escaped into surrounding bushes.
Police officials later affirmed the incident, with the Ogun State Police Command saying it was aware of the abduction and had activated security measures to secure Moruf’s safe return. Command spokesperson DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi said the police have deployed the Anti‑Kidnapping Unit and are conducting search and rescue operations, urging the public to remain calm as the investigation continues.
A community source disclosed that the abducted former lawmaker struggled with his attackers for more than 20 minutes, an effort that drew the attention of residents before he was taken away. Some nearby residents are believed to have sustained injuries from stray gunfire as they tried to intervene or fled the scene.
Hon. Moruf served as a lawmaker in the Ogun State House of Assembly, where he formerly held leadership roles, including as Majority Leader, and was a well‑known figure in Ogun Waterside. His kidnapping comes amid a troubling pattern of violent abductions and insecurity in parts of southern Nigeria, where gunmen have repeatedly targeted individuals — including political figures, worshippers and travellers — in both urban and rural settings.
The location of the attack — within the lawmaker’s own compound while he observed prayer — has drawn particular concern from residents and security analysts, who see it as indicative of deteriorating security conditions and the increasing boldness of criminal networks. Local leaders have called for intensified patrols, better intelligence gathering, and quicker response times by security agencies to prevent such incidents and reassure vulnerable communities.
Reaction to the news has been swift online and among local advocacy circles, with many expressing outrage at the violation of a place of worship and lamenting the broader state of insecurity. Civil society groups have reiterated calls for stronger protections for individuals in their homes and during worship, urging federal and state authorities to scale up coordinated efforts against kidnappers.
As of this report, no ransom demands have been publicly disclosed, and the kidnappers’ identity and motive remain unknown. Police and joint security teams continue to comb the surrounding forests and waterways, where victims are often taken, in hopes of locating the former lawmaker and his captors. Authorities have reassured the public that every available resource is being deployed to secure his release and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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