Residents of the Oloje–Ogidi axis in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, were gripped by fear and confusion on Friday following the discovery of the lifeless body of a female police officer who was earlier reported abducted by unknown assailants.
The deceased, a Woman Inspector attached to the Ogidi Police Division, was said to have been kidnapped on Thursday night under unclear circumstances. Her remains were later found dumped in a bush around the Oloje area on Friday morning, sparking outrage and renewed anxiety over the deteriorating security situation in the state.
According to reliable security sources, the slain officer served as a prosecutor at the Ogidi Division before her abduction. Preliminary findings suggest that she might have been killed shortly after she was taken, though the motive behind the gruesome act remains uncertain.
“The discovery has thrown the entire division into mourning. Everyone is still in shock. She was dutiful, disciplined and well-respected,” one of her colleagues told our correspondent on condition of anonymity.
The incident has heightened tension within Oloje and Ogidi communities, with many residents expressing concern over the rising wave of abductions and violent crimes in Ilorin and its environs. Some community members have begun calling on authorities to step up surveillance and intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators.
Kwara State has in recent months witnessed an alarming surge in kidnappings, banditry and violent attacks, particularly across the northern and southern senatorial districts. The wave of insecurity has displaced several residents and disrupted economic activities in rural areas.
As at press time, efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages to her mobile line went unanswered.
