Residents of the Tinumola area in Osogbo, Osun State, were gripped by fear on the night of January 12, 2022, after a man identified as Ogunlana Abimbola narrowly escaped what witnesses described as an attempted attack by unidentified assailants.
The incident reportedly occurred along Akinloye Street, where the victim resides. When this reporter visited the location, efforts to reach Ogunlana and his wife proved unsuccessful, as both were not at home.
An eyewitness, Olalekan Naheem, who lives in the same compound as the victim, recounted the sequence of events. He said he was heading to a nearby shop when he suddenly saw Ogunlana running in distress, pursued by several men.
“One of them was carrying a large cutlass. He wore a black shirt and had his face covered. I could not clearly identify the others because I was frightened and did not want to expose myself to danger,” Naheem said.
He explained that he immediately retreated into the compound and alerted Ogunlana’s wife.
“I advised her to stay indoors because some armed men were chasing her husband,” he added.
Another eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the attackers arrived in a black Toyota jeep. According to the source, the vehicle intercepted Ogunlana before the assailants alighted and began chasing him.
“Sensing danger, he ran, and they pursued him on foot. Fortunately, he managed to escape,” the witness said. “The entire neighbourhood descended into chaos. Shop owners hurriedly closed their businesses, and passersby fled to safety.”
Residents said the incident lasted less than 15 minutes.
“When I later came out to check, both the vehicle and the men had disappeared,” the source added.
As of the time of filing this report, the motive behind the attempted attack remains unclear. Concerned residents have called on security agencies to investigate the incident and enhance safety measures in the area, as fear and tension continue to linger within the community.
