“My Brother Went to Rescue Victims, But He Was Bombed by Kidnappers” — Family Speaks After Ogbomoso Tragedy

A tragic incident has emerged from the Ogbomoso axis of Oyo State after a man identified as Adigun Saheed was reportedly killed during a rescue operation involving kidnapped victims abducted from three schools.

His elder brother, Adigun Michael, shared the heartbreaking account during an interview on With Chude, describing how the family member died while attempting to assist in a rescue mission.

According to Michael, Saheed joined local hunters and security personnel who moved into the forest in an effort to rescue victims who had been kidnapped during the incident in the Ogbomoso area on May 15, 2026.

He explained that the operation was meant to locate and safely bring back the abducted victims, but it ended in tragedy when the rescuers encountered explosive devices allegedly planted by the kidnappers.

Michael said his brother was among those at the scene when the explosion occurred.

“My brother went there with the hunters and the security men but on the scene they bombed him,” he said during the interview.

He added that the attackers had reportedly set up bombs and were heavily armed, making the rescue operation extremely dangerous for those involved.

According to him, the explosion claimed the life of Adigun Saheed while other members of the rescue team managed to survive the attack.

Michael further stated that, as of the time of the interview, his brother’s body had not yet been recovered from the forest where the incident occurred.

“He was among the rescuers… they bombed him and he died. We have not brought his body out of the forest. His corpse is still in the forest,” he added.

The incident has sparked renewed concern over the growing insecurity in parts of southwestern Nigeria, particularly cases involving kidnappings and violent attacks on rural communities.

Residents in affected areas have continued to express fear over repeated incidents of abductions, with some communities calling for stronger security presence and improved response strategies.

Security experts say kidnappers increasingly use more sophisticated and dangerous tactics, including ambushes and improvised explosive devices, making rescue missions highly risky for both civilians and security operatives.

The tragedy has also drawn sympathy from Nigerians online, with many calling for urgent government intervention to improve intelligence gathering, forest surveillance, and rapid response operations in kidnapping-prone regions.

Some commentators have praised the courage of local volunteers and hunters who often assist security agencies during rescue missions, despite the high risks involved.

Others, however, have raised concerns about the need for better coordination and training to avoid further loss of life during such operations.

As discussions continue, the death of Adigun Saheed has once again highlighted the human cost of Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity crisis and the dangers faced by those who attempt to confront it directly.