Family seeks justice after Kwara farmer is found dead

The family of Abdulazeez Abiodun, a farmer known as Kebe, is asking security agencies to look into how he died. His body was discovered in a bush in Isanlu-Isin, which is in the Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Rofiat Abdulazeez, the deceased's daughter, told Punch newspaper that her father went missing after he left home for his cocoa farm. She said he left their house in Isanlu-Isin around 7 a.m. on Saturday, heading to his farm in Owa-Onire, but he did not return that day. This made the family start searching for him.

After they could not reach him by phone, the family called local hunters and other residents to help with the search. Rofiat explained, "When the hunters got to his farm, they found only his motorcycle parked there. Seeing the motorcycle without my father filled us with fear. We initially believed he might have been kidnapped and waited anxiously, expecting that someone would contact us to demand a ransom. However, no call ever came."

The search team later found Abdulazeez’s body in a nearby bush. Rofiat said, "After searching for some time, far away from where his motorcycle had been parked, they made a horrifying discovery. They found my father’s lifeless body in the bush. His two hands had been tied, and he had been brutally killed."

She called the killing devastating. Rofiat said, "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."

Miss Abdulazeez mentioned that the family reported the case to the Isanlu-Isin Divisional Police Headquarters. Police officers recovered his motorcycle from the scene but have not given any updates on the investigation.

This incident raises more worries about safety in parts of Kwara State. PREMIUM TIMES recently reported that Owa-Onire in Ifelodun Local Government Area has been largely deserted due to repeated attacks by armed groups. Security operatives said the area is almost empty following a recent operation.

As of when this report was filed, the police had not commented on Abdulazeez’s killing. Calls and messages sent to the spokesperson for the state police command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, went unanswered.