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Some residents of Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have barricaded a major highway to protest rising kidnappings, violent attacks, and what they describe as worsening insecurity in the region.
The demonstrators on Saturday blocked the busy Owo/Benin (Akure-Owo) Expressway, halting traffic for several hours and leaving motorists stranded. The action came amid heightened fear after suspected gunmen abducted a couple and shot at a neighbour during a late-night attack in Olaribigba Estate, Ilu-Abo.
According to witnesses, the assailants attacked the butcher, Jamiu Olawale, and his wife as they returned home from their shop, forcing them into their vehicle before fleeing the scene. A neighbour, Patrick Ilumaro, was also shot and rushed to hospital for treatment.
Frustrated residents, including youths and women, blocked the highway with stones and logs, chanting for urgent government action to protect lives and property. One protester said kidnappings and armed attacks have become “almost daily occurrences,” forcing ordinary citizens to take extreme measures to draw attention to their plight.
Protesters demanded that the Ondo State Government and security agencies strengthen patrols, establish permanent checkpoints, and reassure residents of their safety. They also called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to personally intervene and visit Ilu-Abo to assess the security situation.
The dispute follows a series of similar demonstrations earlier this year, including protests in Ilu-Abo after a woman’s abduction and injury during a separate gunmen attack. Local police commanders pledged to deploy additional tactical units and intensify intelligence-led operations in response to the unrest.
Security analysts say the blockade highlights growing frustration across parts of southwestern Nigeria, where armed gangs, kidnappers, and bandits have increasingly targeted rural and peri-urban communities, challenging government efforts to secure major road corridors and local settlements.
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Oyetoke Adedayo Ebenezer
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