Oke-Ode — a community where predominantly Christians and moderate Muslims have lived together in peace for generations — now sits in heavy silence after a deadly pre-dawn attack on Sunday, September 28. Once a quiet farming town, it has been thrown into mourning.
Armed bandits stormed the community, killing at least fifteen people, injuring many others, and leaving homes and livelihoods in ruins.
Survivors describe the attackers as swift and ruthless. Families fled into the bush; children ran barefoot; the elderly prayed as gunfire shattered the night.
In the midst of chaos, a youth leader, Labour Party member, Obidient supporter, and vigilante head, Adeyinka Adekunle, chose not to run. With a small group of young men, he confronted the heavily armed invaders, managing to slow their advance briefly. Enraged by the resistance, the bandits retaliated fiercely — burning Adeyinka’s home and scattering his team.
When the shooting finally stopped, Adeyinka had vanished. Some believe he escaped through the forest; others fear he may have been captured or killed. His mother clings to hope, clutching his photograph in the rubble of what used to be their home.
The attack has left Oke-Ode shattered — its market deserted, its residents terrified, its grief immeasurable. A mass grave now holds the bodies of the fifteen victims, their names spoken in whispers.
Experts describe the tragedy as another chapter in Nigeria’s deepening rural insecurity. But for Oke-Ode, it is a wound no words can heal. Yet even in the ashes, Adeyinka’s bravery stands as a symbol of resilience. Many believe he is still alive — and that one day, he will return.
Until then, the town waits — for peace, for justice, and for answers.
