By Abigail David

Gunmen have abducted the Vice Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, Debo Farounbi, during an attack on Ora, a border community along the Osun-Kwara boundary.

The incident reportedly occurred around 10 p.m. on Tuesday when the assailants invaded the town, firing gunshots and causing panic among residents.

According to local sources, four people, including Farounbi, were initially abducted. However, a joint response by military personnel and local security volunteers forced the attackers to release three of the captives after a gunfight, while escaping with the local government official.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said security operatives, including the military and police, responded promptly and had launched efforts to rescue the victim.

“One person was abducted. He is the Ifedayo Local Government Vice Chairman, Hon. Debo Farounbi. Efforts are ongoing to secure his release,” Ojelabi said.

The attack is the latest in a series of abductions in Ora. Residents said the community has witnessed at least three similar incidents in the past seven months, raising concerns over worsening insecurity in the area.

Community leaders have called for increased security presence, warning that repeated attacks could force more residents to flee the town.

By Abigail David

No fewer than seven people have been killed and about 50 huts destroyed following a violent clash between farmers and suspected herders in Lanzai and Dosho communities of Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, CSP Nafiu Habib.

According to the police, the violence began at about 9 a.m. when suspected Fulani herders allegedly attacked farmers applying local fertiliser on their farmland on the outskirts of Lanzai community.

The attack reportedly triggered a reprisal by youths from Lanzai, who mobilised and stormed Dosho village, a Fulani settlement, setting huts and property ablaze.

“About 50 huts were razed, and several household goods were destroyed in the process,” the statement said.

The police disclosed that seven persons lost their lives during the clashes, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment.

In response, tactical operatives were deployed to the affected communities to restore order, prevent further violence and commence investigations.

The command also reinforced security in the area with the deployment of the Violent Crime Response Unit and intensified patrols across Lanzai, Dosho and neighbouring communities.

Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed a comprehensive investigation into the incident and assured residents that those responsible for both the initial attack and the retaliatory violence would be identified and prosecuted.

He urged community leaders and residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, reaffirming the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

The clash occurred weeks after the Bauchi State Government introduced a “Right of Way” policy aimed at reducing recurring conflicts between farmers and herders and promoting peaceful coexistence.

The initiative, endorsed by stakeholders from both farming and pastoral communities, is expected to improve access to grazing routes and strengthen agricultural productivity across the state.