Residents in Ondo and Oyo states staged protests on Tuesday over escalating kidnappings, killings, and insecurity in their communities. In Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo, demonstrators from Ilu Abo, Kajola, and Owode blocked the Akure/Owo road with corpses of kidnapping victims following a fresh attack that left two people dead and three abducted. Protesters demanded urgent government intervention, accusing authorities of failing to address the persistent violence.
The demonstrators rejected efforts by Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, to restore order, insisting they would not allow traffic until Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa visited the area. Residents claimed kidnappings had become frequent, disrupting daily life and preventing farmers from working safely. Similar protests occurred in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, where communities blocked major roads following multiple abduction attempts and brutal attacks on residents.
Governor Aiyedatiwa responded by vowing to tackle kidnappers and their sponsors decisively. He revealed that security agencies had arrested about 90 suspects in connection with abductions, some of whom had begun making confessional statements. The governor emphasized that all criminal collaborators, regardless of influence, would face prosecution and urged traditional leaders and community members to help identify criminal elements.
Security forces also intensified operations in neighboring states. In Kwara State, police and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) operatives arrested 32 suspects linked to kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling, recovering firearms, ammunition, and communication devices used by criminal networks. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended officers for their professionalism and called on residents to provide credible intelligence to aid ongoing security operations.
Meanwhile, socio-political group Afenifere expressed concern over rising insecurity across the South-West, stressing that proposed state police structures should not be hindered by fears of misuse. The group highlighted that the frequency and spread of kidnappings and banditry had heightened public fear, calling for stronger collaboration between communities and security agencies to restore safety in affected areas.
