Gunmen Abduct Ex-Ogun Lawmaker in Mosque Raid

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers stormed the residence of a former Ogun State House of Assembly member in Ibiade, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, abducting Hon. Musa Moruf on Tuesday evening.

The incident unfolded around 7:00 p.m. as Moruf, who represented the Ogun Waterside State Constituency during the state’s 6th Assembly (2007-2011), was engaged in prayers at a mosque within his compound. Eyewitness accounts, corroborated by local sources, describe a fierce 20-minute struggle between the victim and his assailants before the kidnappers overpowered him and fled into a nearby bush path.

To deter intervention from residents, the gunmen fired shots sporadically into the air, creating panic in the community. Unconfirmed reports suggest that some locals sustained gunshot wounds during the chaos, though no official casualty figures have been released. As of Wednesday morning, no ransom demands had surfaced publicly, and Moruf’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Oluwaseyi (also reported as Babaseyi in initial dispatches), confirmed the abduction in a statement to journalists. He detailed the swift activation of specialized units, including the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, alongside tactical teams and intelligence operatives.

“The Command is fully aware of the reported kidnapping of Hon. Musa Moruf in Ibiade, Ogun Waterside LGA,” Oluwaseyi stated. “Robust security measures are in place, with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed. We urge the public to stay calm and provide any useful information while we work to secure his safe release.”

Police operations have intensified in the Waterside axis, a coastal region prone to criminal incursions due to its dense forests and proximity to waterways, which kidnappers often exploit for escapes.

Background on Victim and Rising Kidnapping Trends

Hon. Musa Moruf, a prominent figure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) during his legislative tenure, has maintained a low profile post-retirement but remains influential in local politics and community affairs. Additional checks reveal no prior high-profile abductions directly linked to him, though the area has seen sporadic banditry.

This attack aligns with a surge in kidnappings across Ogun State and southwest Nigeria in late 2025. Recent incidents include the abduction of over 20 travellers on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in November and multiple farmhouse raids in Ijebu-Ode. Security analysts attribute the uptick to economic hardships, porous borders, and the influx of arms from regional conflicts. Nationally, Nigeria recorded over 3,500 kidnapping cases in 2025 per MacArthur Foundation data, with Ogun emerging as a hotspot due to its strategic location bordering Lagos.

Residents of Ibiade, a semi-rural community reliant on fishing and farming, expressed fears over escalating insecurity. “We heard the gunshots and hid indoors,” one anonymous local told reporters. “These gunmen are bold; they came straight into his compound during prayers.”

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As of December 31, 2025, rescue efforts continue with no breakthroughs reported. The police have cordoned off escape routes and are collaborating with neighboring commands, including Lagos and Ondo states. Community leaders have appealed for vigilance and urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to bolster local patrols.

This incident underscores the persistent threat of kidnapping in Nigeria’s southwest, prompting calls for enhanced intelligence-sharing and community policing.