Youths in Ayede Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Saturday staged protest over the rising wave of kidnappings and killings in their community.
AFRIPOST reports that the demonstration came less than 24 hours after suspected gunmen killed a businessman, Okudili Okoro, and abducted a shop owner, Mrs. Orogun, in the town.
The protesters barricaded the Ayede Ogbese highway, lamenting the worsening insecurity and frequent abductions in the area.
The protest caused hours of traffic gridlock, forcing motorists to divert through bush paths to reach their destinations.
One of the youth leaders who identified herself as Justina said the people of the area had been neglected and the poor state of the roads resulted in the insecurity in the area.
She accused the security agents who mounted check points in the area of not doing enough to curtail the activities of the criminals.
According to her, “We don’t have security in Ayede Ogbese anymore. The youths are the ones now providing security. This is sad and very shameful. You can imagine that with the level of security here, we are still experiencing abduction.
“Even those posted here to check the security situation are not doing enough. Now, the youths are the ones protecting themselves. The government should come and tell us what they are doing about the bad road and the incessant kidnapping.
“We’re no longer safe. Just yesterday, one of us was killed here by the kidnappers, and another woman who had a shop here was abducted and whisked away.
“So, why are security agencies on the road not doing their job.”
Responding to the protesters, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, assured them that the command was working to apprehend those behind the killings and abductions.
Lawal also promised that the kidnapped woman would be rescued unharmed.