A Nigerian man has shared a chilling account of how he cheated death not once, but twice, during brutal raids by armed bandits in two different states. Sunday Alufogejo, a middle-aged farmer, faced the terror of masked attackers first in Ondo State and later in Kwara State, where he had sought refuge.
First Escape in Ondo: A Community in Flames
Alufogejo's first brush with death occurred on 23 December 2022 in Kajola, Ondo State. He had just returned home from working late on his farm when he realized bandits had invaded the community, seizing residents at will. Understanding the immediate danger, he fled without hesitation.
"I ran for my dear life when I realized that it was either I run or risk being abducted," Alufogejo recounted. The attack left a trail of destruction. He looked back to see his home and many others engulfed in smoke, a stark symbol of the violence that had transformed his peaceful refuge into a warzone.
A Fragile New Beginning Shattered in Kwara
Seeking safety, Alufogejo relocated to Oke-Ode in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. There, with the help of a friend, he and his family began the slow process of rebuilding their lives in a small rented house. For a time, hope returned. "For the first time since Kajola fell, I felt almost safe," he said.
That fragile peace was violently shattered on 28 September 2025. Another group of bandits stormed Oke-Ode in a dawn attack. Awoken by gunshots, Alufogejo acted quickly, hiding on the roof of his house for about 30 minutes. What he discovered upon descending was a scene of pure horror.
"I saw my brother, the Baale, his younger brother, and son lying dead in a pool of blood. Their bodies were riddled with bullets," he described. The assault escalated into a full-scale massacre. Alufogejo was eventually abducted but was later rescued by police after several days in captivity.
Aftermath: A Town's Soul Shattered
A local hunter who witnessed the Oke-Ode attack detailed its devastating scale. "It was a tough battle. Those people came with sophisticated weapons. We tried our best, but we were overwhelmed," the hunter stated. He confirmed that no fewer than 15 people were killed, including prominent community figures.
The victims named were:
- The Baale of Ogba Ayo, Abdulwasiu Abdulkareem
- His brother, Fatai Abdulkareem
- A prince from Agunjin, Ishola Muhammed
- Abdulfatai Elemosho from Babaloma
The hunter lamented the total collapse of community life. Families were kidnapped, compounds emptied, and hundreds fled in panic. Farmlands, shops, and schools were abandoned. Oke-Ode—once considered the safest town in the Igbomina area—was left deserted, its bustling markets now silent.
Sunday Alufogejo's story is a stark testament to the relentless spread of bandit violence, displacing families and destroying communities across state lines, leaving survivors to grapple with profound loss and trauma.
