A cloud of grief has settled over the Tede community in Atisbo Local Government Area following the brutal murder of Mr. Abel Oyedokun Atilola, a 67-year-old retired teacher turned farmer.
Mr. Atilola was reportedly ambushed and gunned down by suspected bandits on Monday, February 23, 2026, while tending to his farm located along the Irawo road axis.
According to local sources,ITV Online can authoritatively report that,the deceased had gone to his plantation for his routine agricultural work when he was intercepted by the attackers. Security reports suggest that the killers may be remnants of a notorious 12-member bandit gang recently sighted infiltrating the Oke-Ogun region.
Prior to this tragic incident,security operatives in Atisbo had reportedly engaged the gang in a fierce gun battle, during which two of the bandits were neutralized. However, it appears the remaining members of the group fled into the nearby forest, where they have continued to terrorize local farmers.
The murder of the well-respected educator has sparked fresh fears regarding the safety of agrarian communities in Oyo State. Residents who spoke to journalists expressed deep shock, describing the late Mr. Atilola as a peaceful man who had dedicated his retirement to food production.
”It is a dark day for Tede,” a community leader lamented. “To lose a man who spent his life teaching our children, only for him to be cut down on his farm, is a blow we cannot easily recover from. We are calling on the State Government and the Police to save us from these invaders.”
The Oyo State Police Command has been notified of the development. While official statements are still expected, security sources confirm that a manhunt is underway to track down the fleeing bandits and bring them to justice.
In the meantime, local hunters and members of the Oyo State Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, have reportedly intensified patrols along the Irawo-Tede corridor to prevent further incursions.