Residents of Ayede-Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area have taken to the streets in anger following a wave of abductions and a fatal shooting in their community. The protest caused significant disruption as youths blocked the main highway, demanding urgent action from state authorities.
The demonstration comes just 24 hours after suspected gunmen killed a local businessman, Okudili Okoro, and abducted a female shop owner, Mrs. Orogun, heightening residents’ fears over their safety.
A youth leader, identified only as Justina, expressed the community’s frustration:
We don’t have security in Ayede-Ogbese anymore… the youths are the ones now providing security.” She lamented that despite security checkpoints, kidnappings persist, and called on the government to address both infrastructure and safety concerns.
In response, Ondo State Police Commissioner Adebowale Lawal addressed the protesters, assuring them that efforts were underway to locate the abductors and ensure the safe return of the kidnapped woman.
Ayede-Ogbese’s protest is symptomatic of a larger trend of insecurity in Ondo State:
Community-led pushback: In March 2025, women protested in Akure over the abduction of nine surveyors, drawing attention to ransom demands of up to ₦100 million.
Regional frustrations boil over: Youths from the Ondo North Senatorial District, under the Ondo North Youths Alliance, staged protests following the kidnapping of five corps members and the killing of two others along the Ifon–Owo road. They called for the removal of the state’s police commissioner, citing inaction.
Widespread violence and impunity: A report by Premium Times highlighted a series of abductions and killings along key routes like Akure–Owo–Akoko, accusing security agencies of inaction and possible collusion with criminals .
Disturbing individual cases: Tributes by Tribune Online tell of a 75-year-old woman in Ifira Akoko who survived a brutal rape escape, a health worker shot during attempted abduction in Eleyowo, and a farm owner kidnapped and held for over a week—all reflecting deepening insecurity in rural zones.
These incidents reveal escalating insecurity across Ondo State—spanning urban and rural areas, targeting civilians, workers, and youth corps members alike. The chaotic toll on daily life and livelihoods has sparked community protests demanding tangible security solutions, improved policing, and governmental accountability.
The protests underscore a powerful sentiment: citizens feel abandoned, and must take matters into their own hands to safeguard their communities. It remains to be seen whether state authorities can deliver lasting relief or risk further escalation of public unrest.
