Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Tension and anger have gripped parts of Ondo State, particularly the Akure North Local Government Area, after another violent attack by suspected kidnappers left communities reeling from killings and abductions, prompting angry residents to barricade the Akure–Owo road in protest. The unrest follows a string of violent incidents that have raised concerns about security in the region and triggered widespread calls for more effective protection by government and security forces.
The latest crisis unfolded on Monday, March 9, 2026, when armed men stormed a farm settlement in Ilu‑Abo, a community near the Akure Airport, and abducted three individuals, including Joseph Aladesuyi, the Secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area in Akoko North‑West Local Government Area. The attack occurred at a poultry farm along Kajola Road, and witnesses said the assailants opened fire into the air to scatter anyone who might interfere before whisking the victims away into nearby forests.
According to accounts from residents, about ten heavily armed men emerged from the bush around 10:00 a.m. and created panic in the community. Aladesuyi had reportedly arrived at his farm early that morning with his daughter, who was left unharmed after the gunmen took her father and two others. One witness said Aladesuyi was shot in the hand during the abduction but managed to stay conscious before being overpowered and dragged into the forest by the kidnappers.
The identities of the two other victims remain unclear. As of the time community protests erupted, the kidnappers had not yet made any public contact with families or made ransom demands. The attack sparked widespread fear, with parents rushing to local schools to withdraw their children amid concerns of further violence.
The abduction in Ilu‑Abo followed a series of recent violent incidents in the state. In the days leading up to March 9, angry residents had blocked the Akure–Owo and Akure–Benin highways after armed men attacked and killed a local farmer and abducted others in neighboring communities. On March 3, protesters from Ayede‑Ogbese barricaded the highway, carrying placards demanding justice and protection as gunmen struck in nearby villages.
Earlier in the week, similar demonstrations paralyzed traffic on the Akure–Owo expressway as youths poured onto the road, placing logs and other obstacles and halting vehicles for several hours in protest against the killings and kidnappings by armed men along the highway. Many expressed frustration that repeated appeals to authorities had not yielded sufficient security responses.
These heightened tensions mirror other attacks across the region in recent months. In late February, gunmen stormed a church in Uso in Owo Local Government Area, abducting multiple worshippers during an early morning service, triggering the temporary ban of night programmes in religious centres as security agencies tried to stem the trend of violent abductions.
Additionally, earlier incidents in January saw armed gunmen invade the Ilu‑Abo community at night, kidnapping a woman identified as a school proprietress and shooting three other residents during the chaos, prompting local outrage and fear.
The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has responded to these security challenges by directing a heavier presence of the military, Nigeria Police Force, the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun), and local vigilante groups to intensify patrols and bush‑combing operations. Aiyedatiwa has acknowledged that insecurity remains a serious concern and has asked security agencies to prioritise rescue efforts and the dismantling of criminal cells responsible for the attacks.
Despite these assurances, residents remain sceptical about the protection available to them. Protesters who blocked the highways have openly blamed both the state government and security agencies for failing to provide adequate safeguards, insisting that ordinary citizens feel abandoned in the face of sustained criminal activity. Demonstrators have carried placards reading slogans such as “Stop the killing of innocent lives” and “Justice must be served,” reflecting deep frustration with the pace and effectiveness of current anti‑kidnapping measures.
In response to the growing crisis, police and Amotekun forces have mobilised tactical teams to pursue the kidnappers and carry out search and rescue missions in swampy and forested areas around Ilu‑Abo and other vulnerable routes. The police have urged residents to stay calm and provide credible information to assist the operations, while also emphasising that patience and cooperation are necessary to avoid further escalation.
The recent wave of attacks in Ondo State underscores a larger trend of insecurity affecting parts of southern Nigeria. Highways such as the Akure–Owo and Owo–Benin routes, previously considered vital economic corridors, have become hotspots for kidnappers and armed groups who exploit dense forests and limited patrol coverage to carry out abductions, shootings, and other crimes. This has led many travellers to seek alternative, longer routes to avoid known danger zones, disrupting commerce and movement.
Local community leaders have decried the situation as untenable, warning that persistent violence will undermine trust in government and erode community resilience unless decisive action is taken. They are calling for more integrated security frameworks, better intelligence gathering, and improved coordination between state authorities and grassroots stakeholders to protect lives and livelihoods.
Residents also highlight the importance of engaging youths productively to prevent criminal recruitment, improving lighting and surveillance on major roads, and enhancing community policing efforts to ensure that threats can be identified and reported early before they spiral into larger crises.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments