Residents of Ondo State on Wednesday blocked the busy Akure–Owo Expressway for several hours in protest against the abduction of worshippers during a vigil at the Celestial Church of Christ in Uso community, Owo Local Government Area.
The attackers were said to have stormed the church, located along the Akure–Owo Expressway, around midnight on Tuesday and whisked six worshippers into a nearby forest. One of the victims reportedly escaped shortly after the incident, leaving five others in captivity.
The incident triggered outrage across Uso community, with residents taking to the highway on Wednesday morning to demand urgent government intervention over what they described as worsening insecurity in the area.
The protesters, including youths and community leaders, blocked the expressway, disrupting vehicular movement and leaving commuters stranded for hours. They chanted solidarity songs and carried placards calling for improved security presence and swift rescue of the abducted worshippers.
Some of the demonstrators lamented that the latest attack was one too many, alleging that criminal elements had repeatedly targeted communities along the corridor without decisive action from authorities.
They urged the state government and security agencies to intensify patrols, deploy more personnel to vulnerable areas, and ensure the immediate rescue of those still in captivity.
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives were said to have engaged community leaders to restore calm and reopen the highway, while efforts were reportedly underway to track down the assailants and secure the release of the victims.
