Residents of Tinumola area in Osogbo, Osun State, were thrown into panic on the night of January 12, 2022, after a man, Ogunlana Abimbola, narrowly escaped what eyewitnesses described as a coordinated attack by unidentified assailants.
The incident unfolded along Akinloye Street, where the victim resides. Attempts to reach Ogunlana and his wife during a visit to the area were unsuccessful, as both were absent from their home.
An eyewitness, Olalekan Naheem, who shares the same compound with the victim, recounted that the situation escalated rapidly. He said he was on his way to a nearby shop when he saw Ogunlana sprinting in distress, chased by several men.
“One of them was armed with a large cutlass. He wore a black shirt and had his face covered. I couldn’t make out the others clearly because I was scared and didn’t want to put myself at risk,” Naheem said.
Sensing imminent danger, Naheem said he quickly retreated into the compound and alerted Ogunlana’s wife, urging her to remain indoors.
Another eyewitness, who requested anonymity, alleged that the attackers arrived in a black Toyota jeep, which intercepted Ogunlana before the men disembarked and began pursuing him on foot.
“He realized the danger and ran. They chased him, but he managed to escape. The whole neighbourhood was thrown into chaos. Shop owners shut down immediately, and people ran for safety,” the source said.
Residents confirmed that the entire episode lasted less than 15 minutes, after which the attackers and their vehicle vanished without a trace.
“When I came out afterward, they were gone,” the source added.
The motive behind the attack remains unknown as of the time of this report. Disturbed by the incident, residents are calling on security agencies to launch a thorough investigation and strengthen security presence in the area, as fear continues to grip the community.