Fear and sorrow have enveloped the farming community of Isua Akoko, the administrative center of Akoko South East Local Government Area in Ondo State, after gunmen—widely believed to be herders—abducted and later murdered a well-known local youth.
The victim, identified as Ojo Gbara and popularly called “Obesere” among residents, was seized several days ago while traveling back from Ibilo in neighboring Edo State. A search party made up of police officers, local vigilantes, hunters, and community youths eventually located his badly decomposed remains in a forested area of Igara, Edo State.
In a strongly worded statement, the Isua Youth Forum’s National President, Comrade Abimbola Oluwafemi, condemned the incident as evidence of escalating insecurity along this volatile corridor. He described how residents now live under perpetual anxiety, calling on Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the state’s Commissioner of Police to step in urgently with decisive measures to restore calm and safety.
When reached for comment, Ondo State Police Command spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh verified the tragic event. He revealed that authorities have taken one suspect into custody in relation to the kidnapping and subsequent killing, with the individual currently cooperating in the active probe.
Jimoh further noted that Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal has directed heightened patrols, increased monitoring, and tactical positioning of personnel throughout the impacted zone and along the shared Ondo-Edo border. These steps aim to deter additional attacks and apprehend any remaining accomplices who may have escaped.
According to police records, the case was first brought to the Isua Divisional headquarters around 7:45 p.m. on February 22, 2026, when a local resident reported that Ojo Abbey (the formal name linked to the victim) had been forcibly taken by armed assailants suspected to be herders during his return journey from Ibilo, Edo State.
Responding swiftly, the Divisional Police Officer deployed patrol units to the location. Investigators recovered the victim’s vehicle—an Almera sedan bearing registration number KJA 440 DB—which has since been secured at the station for forensic examination and as part of the evidence chain.
