Ondo residents block expressway with body of kidnap victim to protest insecurity

Residents of Ilu-Abo and neighbouring communities in AkureNorth LGA of Ondo state, on Tuesday barricaded the Akure-Owo expressway, inprotest against rising cases of kidnapping in the area. The protesters placed the remains of a kidnap victim on thehighway as they chanted solidarity songs, a development that worsened gridlockon a road that connects the south of the country to the north. The residents, mostly youths, said they would not allowvehicular movement on the road until the government addresses the securitychallenges afflicting communities in the LGA. Carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘We Are Dying,Save Our Soul’, ‘Mr Governor, Please Assist Us’, and ‘We Cannot Go to FarmsAgain’, they said incessant kidnappings have made it unsafe for them to farm orsleep peacefully. They also demanded that Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo,address them over the security situation in the area. Adebowale Lawal, commissioner of police in Ondo, visited thescene and appealed to the residents to allow vehicular movement. Lawal assured that security agencies, including the AmotekunCorps, would intensify efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property inthe affected communities. The police commissioner also visited Olu Falae and a monarchof the community, explaining the steps being taken by security agencies to curbthe spate of attacks. Lawal said additional police officers and tactical teamswould be deployed in the area. On Monday, suspected gunmen reportedly abducted a councilsecretary and two other persons in the Ilu-Abo community, Akure north LGA. Witnesses said the attackers, numbering 10, ambushed thevictims and fired gunshots to scare residents before whisking them away. One of the victims was identified as Joseph Aladesuyi,secretary of Okeluju LCDA, in Akoko north-west LGA.

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