Ondo residents demand enhanced security response amid rising killings, kidnappings

Stakeholders in Ondo State have intensified calls for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to strengthen and decentralize security arrangements following a surge in killings, kidnappings, and coordinated attacks that have left residents living in fear.

A resident of Oba Ile community, Chief Olu Fagoroyo, said there was the need for Governor Aiyedatiwa to act fast to checkmate the upsurge of insecurity in the state, saying there was already panic in the towns and villages of the state.

“I must tell you, we are living in fear in this community, because if people are being kidnapped around us here and up till now they had not been rescued, it is unfortunate. Our governor needs to do something to prevent these bandits from entering into the community. If care is not taken, we don’t know what they will do tomorrow. Our governor needs to act fast,” Fagoroyo stated.

The calls come amid a wave of deadly attacks that have claimed multiple lives across the state, particularly in Akure North Local Government Area. At least 14 people were killed in four communities—Ademekun, Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, and Alajido—during a deadly attack, while nine surveyors were abducted in Ilu Abo Community, sparking a protest by hundreds of women.

More recently, residents of Ilu Abo community barricaded the busy Owo/Benin Highway in protest against what they described as unrelenting kidnappings and rising insecurity in the area following the abduction of a couple during a late-night attack by suspected gunmen.

The demonstrators appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently visit the community and strengthen security presence in the area. They warned that persistent insecurity could cripple farming and commercial activities, which form the backbone of the local economy.

Governor Aiyedatiwa has acknowledged the security challenges and pledged action. “The security of lives and property is the primary function of any government, and that is exactly what we want to ensure. We have been working hard to keep our people safe in Ondo State. The security agencies are also working tirelessly, and the state government has been supporting them. We will increase this support,” Aiyedatiwa stated.

The governor noted that “criminals are not relenting in their efforts, trying to find new ways to infiltrate the system. So we need more equipment like trackers and drones. These are some of the tools we are working to procure for our security agencies”.

The latest incidents come barely two days after suspected gunmen reportedly stormed the Agamo community and killed a traditional ruler, Oba Kehinde Falodun, during a failed kidnap attempt, further heightening fears among residents.

Survivors have recounted harrowing experiences. John, who sustained a gunshot wound to his hand during an attack on Aba Sunday Community, described how attackers stormed the community in the middle of the night, shooting indiscriminately. “I was sleeping when I heard gunshots. I suddenly woke up and realised that the person sleeping beside me had already been shot. As I tried to escape, I was hit in the hand. I managed to run into the bush and hid in a cocoa plantation until morning. Nine people were killed in our camp,” he recounted.

The escalating insecurity has compounded political tensions in the state, with recent violence during the APC ward congress leaving two people dead and several injured in Idanre Local Government Area.

As pressure mounts on the governor to take decisive action, residents are calling for a comprehensive security strategy that includes community-based approaches, improved intelligence gathering, and rapid response capabilities to address the multifaceted security threats facing the state.