Ondo Residents Protest Persistent Killings, Kidnappings in Akure North Communities

Angry residents of Imafon, Igushin, and Ilado communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday trooped to the streets of Akure to stage a peaceful protest against the persistent killings and kidnappings in their areas.

The protesters converged on the busy Shoprite intersection near the governor’s office in the state capital, blocking the road as they demanded urgent government intervention to halt the growing insecurity.

The demonstration was triggered by recent attacks in the affected communities, where gunmen killed a mother and her daughter and later abducted another resident who was attacked while trying to escape.

Just days ago, suspected kidnappers struck again in the state, killing a woman and her daughter during an attack on a poultry farm in Akure.

Speaking during the protest, a youth leader identified as Kunle lamented that gunmen now operate freely across the Akure axis without any visible resistance from security agencies. He also questioned the effectiveness of the state’s security votes, stressing that residents have not felt any meaningful impact despite the increasing wave of violence.

“We are protesting due to the incessant killings and kidnappings in Imafon, Igushin, and Ilado. A mother and her daughter were killed two days ago, and another young man was brutally attacked,” he said.

“We want government to rise up to its responsibilities. We have not seen the impact of the monthly security votes in the state. We are tired of burying our people every week and paying ransom while those paid to protect us do nothing.”

Kunle further decried the absence of adequate security presence in the affected areas, noting that the continued silence of authorities has emboldened criminal elements.

“These gunmen move freely within the state capital, yet there are no patrols, no visible security, no results. Where exactly is the security vote going?” he queried.

He warned that residents would not back down until concrete measures are taken to secure lives and property in the affected communities.

The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations across Ondo State in recent weeks, as residents continue to express frustration over persistent cases of abductions and killings, which have claimed the lives of many, including a traditional ruler.