Angry residents in parts of Ondo and Oyo states on Tuesday staged protests and blocked major highways following fresh incidents of kidnapping, killings and violent attacks in their communities.
In Ondo State, residents of Ilu-Abo, Kajola and Owode communities in Akure North Local Government Area barricaded the Akure–Owo highway, placing the corpses of two victims on the road to draw attention to what they described as worsening insecurity in the area.
The protest came hours after gunmen reportedly attacked the community again, killing two people and abducting three others. The residents said the demonstration was meant to compel authorities to respond to repeated cases of kidnapping and killings around the Akure Airport axis.
The development also followed the abduction of the Secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Joseph Aladesuyi, who was kidnapped on Monday alongside two others on his farm in Ilu-Abo community.
According to family sources, the kidnappers have demanded N100 million ransom for his release.
“They called this morning (yesterday). They asked us to bring N100 million before they would release him. They spoke very shortly and hastily during the call, and they did not even allow us to say much.
“We have been worried since yesterday, but the call has given us hope. We are still expecting that they will call because the money is a whole lot.
“Our concern is more about his health at the moment because we were made to understand that when they (kidnappers) arrived on the farm, he was shot in one of his hands while they were dragging him,” the source said.
During the protest, demonstrators displayed placards with inscriptions such as “We Are Dying, Save Our Soul,” “Mr Governor, Please Assist Us,” “Our Children Are in Danger,” and “We Cannot Go to Farms Again.”
They insisted they would not reopen the highway until Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa visited the area and addressed their concerns.
A mild drama occurred when the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, visited the community but was turned back by protesters who refused his appeal to allow traffic movement on the road.
Lawal assured the residents that security agencies, including the police and Amotekun corps, would strengthen operations to protect lives and property in the area.
The protest caused heavy gridlock on the busy highway linking southern and northern parts of the country as residents insisted the blockade would remain until government authorities intervened.
A resident who spoke with journalists lamented the growing insecurity in the area.
“We are tired of this situation. Almost every day now, we hear about kidnappings around the airport road. On Monday, a Council Secretary was kidnapped, and today (yesterday), one person was killed, while three others have been taken away by gunmen.
“The government is not doing anything to protect us. People are living in fear, and many farmers can no longer go to their farms. We cannot continue like this,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police in Ondo State said they had arrested a suspected kidnapping kingpin linked to previous incidents in the Ikare-Akoko area.
Police spokesperson DSP Jimoh Abayomi said the suspect, identified as Abdullahi Lawal, had earlier escaped with gunshot injuries during a confrontation with security operatives.
“Abdullahi Lawal managed to escape from the scene at the time, despite sustaining gunshot injuries during the encounter with police operatives.
“Following his escape, the Command immediately placed the suspect on an intelligence watchlist, while intensive surveillance and discreet investigations were launched to track his movements and possible hideouts.
“After months of sustained intelligence-led operations and coordinated efforts by security personnel, the suspect was successfully apprehended by police operatives in Ikare-Akoko. He has since made useful confessional statements and will be charged in court,” Abayomi said.
In a related development in Oyo State, residents of Jobele in Afijio Local Government Area also blocked the Ibadan–Oyo Road to protest what they described as repeated kidnapping and banditry attacks in the community.
The demonstrators said suspected kidnappers attempted to abduct a woman on Monday, but she narrowly escaped after scaling a fence.
“On Monday, the suspected kidnappers invaded one of the communities along the axis. An attempt was made to kidnap a lady but she narrowly escaped by scaling the fence.
“Even though she narrowly escaped, she received a deep machete cut in one of her hands. This was not the first time that such an incident would happen in the area.
“We are not going to leave the road until our (residents’) safety is guaranteed by the relevant security agencies,” the protesters said.
A community representative, Dolapo Awotunde of Ward 8, said the area had recorded at least seven kidnapping incidents in recent times.
“It is no longer news that kidnapping has become rampant in Afijio Local Government Area, particularly in Jobele.
“The community has recorded not less than seven kidnapping-related incidents in recent times, and sadly, another disturbing attack occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning,” Awotunde said.
He added that during one of the attacks, a victim suffered severe injuries and later had one of his hands amputated due to the severity of the wounds.
According to him, the development triggered outrage among residents and students who blocked the Old Oyo–Ibadan Road and the Ibadan–Oyo–Ogbomoso highway to demand improved security.
Reacting to the protest, Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the Commissioner of Police had deployed officers to restore order.
“The Commissioner of Police, Haruna, has sent both the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer to the spot to restore normalcy on the road,” he said.
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