Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The family of Abdulazeez Abiodun, a cocoa farmer from Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State popularly known as Kebe, is demanding answers and justice after his body was discovered in a bush with his hands tied, days after he went missing following a routine trip to his farm. The 2026 killing has sent shockwaves through the agrarian community of Isanlu-Isin and raised fresh concerns about the safety of farmers in a region increasingly plagued by violent attacks and abductions. Speaking in a powerful open letter and in interviews with journalists on Tuesday, the deceased's second daughter, Abdulazeez Rofiat, described the harrowing sequence of events that led to the discovery of her father's remains and appealed to security agencies, human rights organisations, and the media to ensure that those responsible are identified and brought to justice.
According to Rofiat, her father left his residence in Isalu, Isin Local Government Area, at approximately 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, heading for his cocoa farm in Owa-Onire, where he earned his livelihood. When he failed to return home later that day, the family grew increasingly worried. Repeated attempts to reach him by telephone proved unsuccessful, prompting the family to alert local hunters and members of the community, who immediately launched a search operation. The initial discovery at the farm only deepened their dread. "When the hunters got to his farm, they found only his motorcycle parked there," Rofiat recounted. "Seeing the motorcycle without my father filled us with fear". The family initially believed he might have been kidnapped and waited anxiously, expecting that someone would contact them to demand a ransom. "However, no call ever came," she said.
The search party then extended their efforts into the surrounding bush, and what they found there was nothing short of horrifying. "After searching for some time, far away from where his motorcycle had been parked, they made a horrifying discovery," Rofiat said. "They found my father's lifeless body in the bush. His two hands had been tied, and he had been brutally killed". The graphic details of the discovery—a bound man left dead in the wilderness—point to a premeditated act of violence rather than a simple robbery or accident. The absence of any ransom demand further complicated the picture, leaving the family and investigators grappling with the unsettling possibility that the killing may have been a targeted assassination or a message to the farming community.
Describing the incident as heartbreaking and devastating, Rofiat painted a portrait of a man who was more than just a farmer. "He was more than a father; he was a loving husband, a caring parent, and a hardworking man who left home that morning simply to work on his farm and provide for his family. He never returned home," she said, her words capturing the profound grief of a family shattered by an inexplicable act of cruelty. She has since called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. "We want those responsible for this terrible crime to be identified, arrested, and prosecuted according to the law. My father deserves justice, and our family deserves answers. We will continue to seek justice until those responsible are held accountable," she declared.
However, Rofiat also expressed deep frustration over the pace of the investigation, claiming that the family had yet to receive any meaningful update from law enforcement. Although officers from the Isalu-Isin Divisional Police Headquarters reportedly recovered her father's motorcycle from the scene, the family has been left in the dark. "We reported the incident to the Police Division in Isalu-Isin and I learnt that the Police had retrieved the motorcycle from the scene, but we are not hearing anything again concerning it," she added. The lack of communication has only added to the family's anguish, as they wait for answers while their loved one's killer remains at large. She has appealed to journalists, bloggers, civil society organisations, community leaders, and security agencies to help amplify the case and urged anyone with useful information to report it to the appropriate authorities.
The Kwara State Police Command has since confirmed the killing and indicated that an investigation is underway. Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the command's spokeswoman, told reporters that the Commissioner of Police has directed the homicide department to thoroughly investigate the incident. "I am aware of the case. The commissioner has directed the homicide department to thoroughly investigate the incident. We are awaiting the outcome of the investigation before we can take any step," she said. As of the time of filing this report, however, no arrests have been announced, and the police had yet to provide further details on the progress of their inquiries.
The killing of Abdulazeez Abiodun adds to a growing and troubling pattern of insecurity in parts of Kwara State, where farmers and rural communities have become increasingly vulnerable to attacks by armed groups, bandits, and kidnappers. Premium Times recently reported that Owa-Onire in Ifelodun Local Government Area had been deserted after repeated attacks by armed groups, with security operatives describing the community as almost empty during a recent operation. The newspaper also reported the killing of the traditional ruler of Olayinka, Salman Aweda, who died in captivity after being abducted by gunmen, as well as the release of the traditional ruler of Olohuntele after nearly two months in captivity. Coordinated attacks on communities in Isin and Ifelodun local government areas, the abduction of a primary school teacher along the Obbo-Ile-Eruku Road, and several other kidnapping incidents have heightened fears among residents and raised urgent questions about the government's ability to protect its citizens. For the family of Abdulazeez Abiodun, the wait for justice continues, their grief compounded by the unsettling silence from those tasked with finding the truth.
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