Panic in Osun Community After Attack on Mining Site

Residents of Ila Ijesa, Ward 9, in Atakunmosa West Local Government Area of Osun State are scared after some armed men attacked a mining site in their area. They opened fire and killed a labourer named Abubakar.

Sources from the community told PUNCH Metro on Monday that the attack happened on July 10. About 25 armed men, joined by suspected members of the Hunter Group of Nigeria, raided the mining site.

A community member, who wanted to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the incident, said Abubakar was shot in the back as he tried to escape.

"By the time we got into town around 10 a.m., I heard that members of the Hunter Group of Nigeria had been brought in. They were in uniform, and four of them were there. Three were carrying guns, while others were armed with guns and cutlasses. They were about 25 in number.

"We saw them return around 10:45 p.m. or 11 p.m. They had gone to perpetrate their evil. They arrested some of those working at the mining site.

"They kept shooting. We later arranged for a vehicle to convey Abubakar’s body. We took photographs and led the police to the spot where he was killed.

"Up till now, we have not heard of any arrests. The suspects are still moving freely, and we still see many of them around," the source said.

Another resident, known as Ajagbe, said that some workers taken during the attack have not come back.

"They conducted an autopsy and deposited the body in the morgue to establish the cause of death and aid the prosecution of those responsible.

"But the workers taken away during the attack have still not been released," he mentioned.

On July 11, a petition was sent to the Inspector-General of Police. This petition was from the Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Femi Oluwasanmi, asking for a thorough investigation into the killing and other violent attacks in the area.

The petition noted that police officers had recovered the deceased’s body and taken it to the Osu Police Station for investigation.

It also highlighted that the killing was not an isolated event. In June 2026, a resident named Ajayi Folorunsho from nearby Farebami Town narrowly escaped death during an attack on his home.

The petition stated that the ongoing attacks have created fear among residents. They are worried about their safety and the worsening security situation in the area.

It urged the Inspector-General of Police to start a thorough and fair investigation into the killing and earlier attacks. They want to ensure that those responsible face justice.

When we tried to reach the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, on Monday, he did not answer calls or respond to a WhatsApp message.