By Our Correspondent

National News – Residents of Imafon, Igushin, and Ilado communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State staged a protest on Saturday to condemn the growing insecurity in their neighbourhoods.

The demonstration followed repeated killings and abductions that have left residents fearful and calling for urgent government intervention.

The protest, which took place in Akure, the Ondo State capital, saw demonstrators barricade the popular ShopRite junction near the governor’s office.

Holding leaves and chanting solidarity songs, the protesters disrupted traffic for several hours to draw attention to the worsening security situation.

Speaking during the protest, a resident identified as Kunle said the communities have been under attack from gunmen who kill and kidnap residents with little resistance from security agencies.

He lamented that lives were being lost weekly while perpetrators continued to operate freely.

Kunle cited recent incidents, including the killing of a mother and her daughter and the brutal machete attack on another resident.

He urged the government to prioritise security and questioned the impact of the state’s monthly security spending.

Another protester, Sunday John, said kidnappings had become a daily occurrence in the affected communities, forcing some residents to relocate for safety.

She called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and relevant security agencies to intervene urgently, warning that residents now live in fear and avoid night movement.

A recent attack at a poultry farm in the Egushi area resulted in the death of a woman and her daughter, while two other victims were kidnapped.

Police later rescued the abducted victims, though no arrests have been made.

The Ondo State Police Command, through its spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh, condemned the killings and said security measures had been intensified.

He assured that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the attackers and restore safety to the affected communities.