A youth leader, Ojo Abbey, also known as Ojo Gbara or 'Obesere', from Isua Akoko, the headquarters of the Akoko South East Local Council Area of Ondo State, was tragically found dead after being kidnapped by gunmen. The incident has sent shockwaves through the agrarian community, highlighting a deeply concerning level of insecurity within the region.

Ojo Abbey was allegedly abducted by armed men, suspected to be herders, on February 22, 2026, as he was returning to Isua Akoko from Ibilo in Edo State. The assailants reportedly fled with him into the dense forests bordering Ondo and Edo States. Community residents, including one named Tunji, confirmed that after reporting the incident to the police, extensive search efforts were launched by community youth in collaboration with local hunters, who painstakingly combed the bushes in a desperate bid to rescue him.

Despite these efforts and the devastating revelation that a ransom was demanded, raised, and paid by his family and well-wishers, Ojo Abbey was not released. Hopes for his safe return were ultimately dashed when his lifeless and decomposing body was discovered in a deep forest in Igara, Edo State, at the weekend. Sources suggest he might have been killed shortly after his abduction, given the state of his remains. His body has since been returned to Isua Akoko for burial rites.

The Isua Youth Forum, through its National President, Abimbola Oluwafemi, issued a statement confirming the incident and expressing profound concern over the alarming rate of insecurity in the axis. Oluwafemi implored the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for immediate intervention to address the rising insecurity in the Isua environment and Akoko South-East at large. The forum also called on the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State and all relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough, transparent, and uncompromising investigation, demanding that every individual involved in this heinous crime be identified, apprehended, and brought to justice.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ondo State Command, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and killing of Ojo Abbey. The suspect is currently in custody and assisting with ongoing investigations. The police spokesperson further stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, has ordered intensified surveillance and strategic deployments across the affected area and along the Ondo–Edo boundary to prevent further occurrences and ensure the arrest of other fleeing suspects.

The police report indicated that the incident was formally reported at the Isua Division at approximately 1945HRS on February 22, 2026. Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilized patrol teams to the scene, and the victim’s vehicle, an Almera car with registration number KJA 440 DB, was recovered and secured at the station. While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the Command assured the public that the perpetrators would be brought to justice and urged residents to remain calm. This tragic event underscores the sustained attacks by bandits in the contiguous states of Kogi, Ondo, and Edo, which have left a trail of deaths and abductions, with a recurring pattern of promises for justice often unmet by convictions.