Man Reveals How Bandits Killed His Brother During Oyo Kidnap Rescue Attempt

The tragedy in Yawota, Alawusa and Ahoro‑Esinele in Orire LGA, Oyo State, runs far deeper than the abductions already reported. While more than 45 schoolchildren, teachers and residents were taken by terrorists, families are now speaking about another layer of loss and that is the quiet heroes who died while trying to rescue those kidnapped.



Media Entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo paid a visit to the communities, and met a grieving man whose younger brother never returned after joining local hunters and security men on a rescue mission into the forest. “Yes, I lost my junior brother there,” he said, his voice heavy. “He went there with the hunters and security men. They bombed him.”

His brother, Shuaibu Adigun, was not among those abducted. He volunteered because he knew the forest terrain and wanted to help save the children and neighbours taken from their homes. But the mission turned deadly when the rescuers reportedly encountered explosives planted inside the forest. “Among the rescuers, as they were planning to rescue people, they were bombed,” he said.

“They have bombs there. They have sophisticated guns, weapons.” Days later, Shuaibu’s body has still not been recovered. Shuaibu, who worked with one of the national parks, left behind two wives and four children who are now fatherless. His death adds a painful dimension to the crisis and villagers risking, and in some cases losing, their lives while trying to save abducted children and families.

Chude described it as one of the hidden tragedies nobody is talking about. “Apart from the 46 people that were recorded, there are people like his brother who were killed because they were trying to rescue the kids who were kidnapped,” he said.

Chude who Reflected on his visit, wrote that he travelled into the communities because the real victims were becoming invisible. He asked families to say the names of their children, siblings and loved ones so the country does not forget that behind every statistic is a human life, a grieving home and a community drowning in fear and silence.