Tension escalated in Ondo State on Saturday as angry residents from several communities in Akure North Local Government Area staged a protest over what they described as unrelenting killings and kidnappings, openly questioning Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s use of security funds.
The demonstrators, drawn mainly from Imafon, Igushin, and Ilado communities, took their grievances to the streets of Akure, barricading the busy Alagbaka axis near the Governor’s Office. Their action disrupted traffic and underscored growing frustration over what they perceive as government inaction in the face of worsening insecurity.
Residents recounted a string of recent violent incidents that have left their communities shaken. According to them, a poultry farmer and her daughter were killed in Igushin, while another attack in Ilado led to the abduction of a young man who was reportedly shot and injured while trying to escape.
Speaking during the protest, a youth leader identified simply as Kunle said the situation had become unbearable, stressing that communities were now living in constant fear. He accused authorities of failing to translate security allocations into tangible protection for citizens.
“We are protesting due to the incessant killings and kidnappings happening daily… We have not seen the impact of the monthly security votes,” he said, reflecting a sentiment widely shared among the protesters.
The protesters further questioned how armed groups could operate freely within the state capital and its surrounding communities without effective resistance from security agencies. Many insisted that the continued attacks suggest a disconnect between government spending on security and the reality on the ground.
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The protest also highlighted a broader pattern of insecurity in Ondo State, where kidnapping and violent attacks have increasingly spread from rural areas into more urban centres, particularly within Akure North.
Despite earlier assurances from Governor Aiyedatiwa—who had directed security agencies to intensify operations against criminal elements—residents argue that little has changed. The government had previously attributed some of the crimes to local collaborators and vowed a crackdown, but protesters say results remain largely invisible.
As of the time of filing this report, the demonstrators warned that their agitation would continue until concrete measures are taken to restore safety, signalling the possibility of prolonged civic unrest if the situation persists.
