In a brazen attack that underscores the pervasive insecurity in parts of Nigeria, gunmen abducted a former Ogun State legislator, Hon. Moruf Musa, from a place of worship on Tuesday evening, December 31, 2025. The incident, which occurred in Ibiade, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, represents a troubling violation of sacred space and a direct assault on community leadership.
The former Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly (2007-2011) was reportedly observing the evening Muslim prayer (Maghrib) inside a mosque within his own compound when the assailants struck at approximately 7:00 p.m. This detail is particularly significant. The targeting of a figure during prayer, within the perceived sanctuary of his home compound’s mosque, signals an alarming level of audacity by kidnappers. It suggests meticulous planning and surveillance, exploiting a moment of vulnerability when community guards might be lowered.
Initial reports indicate a violent struggle ensued for over 20 minutes, drawing the attention of residents. The kidnappers ultimately fired shots sporadically into the air to disperse the growing crowd and facilitate their escape with the victim. The Ogun Waterside Local Government Chairman, Mr. Ganiyu Odunoiki, confirmed the abduction and added a chilling detail: the gunmen also shot at people on the road during their operation, highlighting the broader threat to public safety.
The response from security agencies has been activated. Chairman Odunoiki stated that a combined team of local security operatives and community members is searching the surrounding bushes. He confirmed the involvement of the police Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the presence of the Area Commander from Ogbere. The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, also acknowledged the command’s awareness of the incident and the activation of security measures to ensure the victim’s safe rescue, urging the public to remain calm.
This abduction is not an isolated event but part of a dangerous pattern. The Ogun Waterside area, with its riverine and forested terrain, has historically presented challenges for security forces, making it a potential corridor and hideout for criminal elements. The kidnapping of a high-profile former lawmaker—a community leader with political connections—marks an escalation. It often indicates a financial motive, with perpetrators seeking a substantial ransom, but it also serves to undermine public trust in the state’s ability to protect its citizens, even the prominent ones.
The incident raises critical questions about the protection of soft targets and the safety of public figures in their hometowns. It also casts a spotlight on the broader national crisis of kidnapping for ransom, which has evolved from a localized issue in the Niger Delta to a nationwide criminal enterprise affecting all strata of society. The community’s immediate mobilization to comb the bushes reflects a grim reality: citizens often feel compelled to supplement official security efforts.
As efforts continue to secure Hon. Moruf Musa’s release, this event serves as a stark reminder of the complex security landscape in Nigeria, where criminality increasingly shows no regard for sanctity, status, or time of day. The outcome of this case will be closely watched as a measure of both the efficacy of rapid-response security protocols and the ongoing struggle to reclaim public spaces from the grip of violent non-state actors.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
