Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Residents of Oba community in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State are reeling from shock after armed bandits killed a local forest guard and abducted his wife in a late-night attack that has intensified fears over worsening insecurity in parts of the state.
The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday when gunmen reportedly stormed the quiet agrarian settlement in what residents described as a coordinated and deliberate assault. The victim, Raimi Ogunrinde, was one of the forest guards recently assigned by the Kwara State Government to strengthen grassroots security operations. He was shot dead during the attack, while his wife was forcibly taken away by the assailants and remains in captivity.
Community members who spoke in separate telephone interviews said the attackers appeared to have targeted specific individuals linked to local security efforts. The killing of Ogunrinde, described as committed and proactive in anti-bandit patrol operations, has left the community in mourning and heightened anxiety among volunteer security personnel.
In an emotional account, Ogunrinde’s daughter, Kafayat, disclosed that the family received contact from the kidnappers in the early hours of Thursday. According to her, the abductors demanded ₦100 million for her mother’s release. Fighting back tears, she said the family was devastated and financially incapable of meeting such a demand, appealing for government and public support.
Residents noted that there had been no prior warning or negotiation before the ransom demand was issued, compounding the family’s distress. The scale of the demand has further fueled apprehension among locals, who fear the abductors may prolong the captivity if payment is delayed.
Pastor Sunday Oladiji, speaking on behalf of the traditional ruler of Oba community, described the killing as a tragic setback to local security initiatives. He said the late Ogunrinde had been actively engaged in forest surveillance operations aimed at curbing banditry and terrorism in surrounding areas before his “tragic and premature death.” He warned that the morale of vigilantes and forest guards has significantly declined following the incident.
Oladiji called on the Kwara State Government, led by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to urgently reinforce security deployments in Isin Local Government Area and intensify operations to secure the safe return of the kidnapped woman. He stressed that the community lacks the capacity to confront heavily armed criminal groups without coordinated state support.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, alleged that the assault bore the hallmarks of a meticulously planned operation. According to him, the attackers appeared intent on neutralizing newly trained security personnel. He suggested that the choice of target and timing indicated prior intelligence gathering by the assailants.
The same source criticized what he described as a delayed response by security operatives, claiming that soldiers arrived after the attackers had retreated and did not pursue them into nearby forested areas believed to serve as hideouts. He said local vigilantes were left to contain the immediate aftermath, further exposing them to risk.
Community members also linked the attack to a prior kidnapping incident in the area involving five Hausa youths residing in Oba. While two were later released, suspicions emerged within the community that one of the freed individuals may have been coerced into acting as an informant for the criminal group. According to a resident, local vigilantes later scrutinized the individual, and he was expelled from the town amid fears of compromised security. Days after his departure, the fatal attack on Ogunrinde occurred.
Although there is no official confirmation of a connection between the earlier abduction and Wednesday’s assault, the sequence of events has heightened speculation among residents. They argue that rural communities in Kwara State are increasingly vulnerable due to limited security presence and expansive forest corridors that provide cover for criminal groups.
Kwara, traditionally considered relatively stable compared to some neighboring states, has in recent years experienced sporadic incidents of kidnapping and armed attacks, particularly in remote areas. Security analysts attribute the pattern to shifting bandit networks seeking new operational zones amid crackdowns elsewhere.
The killing of a government-appointed forest guard has raised additional concerns about the safety of frontline community defenders. Forest guards were introduced as part of state-level initiatives aimed at complementing federal security forces in intelligence gathering and territorial surveillance. However, critics argue that without adequate training, equipment, and rapid response backup, such personnel remain vulnerable.
As Oba community buries one of its own and anxiously awaits news of the abducted woman, calls for decisive intervention continue to mount. Residents insist that sustained security operations, rather than temporary patrols, are needed to restore confidence and prevent further violence.
At the time of filing this report, there had been no official statement from state security authorities detailing operational steps taken in response to the incident. The community remains on edge, with vigilantes intensifying local watch efforts while families fear potential reprisals or further attacks.
For Ogunrinde’s family, the grief of losing a husband and father is compounded by uncertainty over the fate of his wife. For Oba community, the attack represents both a personal tragedy and a stark reminder of the fragile security landscape confronting rural settlements across parts of Nigeria.
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