No fewer than 11 people were reportedly kidnapped in separate attacks in Ondo State in the last three weeks, findings by Thefrontrank have revealed.
It was gathered that the abductors raked in N15 million from their victims during the period.
Thefrontrank reports that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers also killed one resident during the period under review.
The current insecurity in Ondo State situation has left the state government and security agencies helpless, resulting in reactive or firefighting approach rather than proactive measures.
In a commando style, on July 29, bandits abducted seven farmers at Itaogbolu in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The victims were harvesting palm fruits on their farmlands when the gunmen when the assailants struck and whisked them away.
The farmers were released in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State after spending five days in captivity and paying N5 million as ransom to their abductors.
Shortly after the release of the farmers, two persons were reportedly abducted on their way to their farms by suspected gunmen in Iju, Akure North Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the victims were freed after the payment of N3 million as ransom by their family members.
“We didn’t report the incident to the police or Amotekun Corps because we know they will not do anything about it and at the end of the day we’ll have to pay ransom to free them. So, we quietly raised money to secure their release,” one of the victims’ family member said.
Similarly, on Monday, August 3, Mr Omoniyi Eleyinmi, a senior staff member of the state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) was abducted by gunmen.
Eleyinmi, who is the Faculty Officer in the Faculty of Education and member of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), was kidnapped at his residence in Supare-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area.
Although, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade disclosed that two staff members of the university were kidnapped during the incident, he failed to give the details of the second victim.
Thefrontrank gathered that Eleyinmi regained freedom after the payment of N7 million by the victim’s family members and members of the alumni of the institution.
The latest incident was the killing of a 34-year-man, and abduction of a businesswoman, Mrs Orogun, in Ayede Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area of the state on Thursday, August 14, by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
The man, identified as Okudili Okoro, was shot dead when the attackers stormed the community with the target to abduct Mrs Orogun, a popular provisions store owner.
Sources said the incident happened at about 10:30 p.m when the assailants who arrived in two unmarked vehicles, began shooting sporadically before abducting the businesswoman.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, while confirming the incident, said the gunmen fled in two unregistered vehicles, while a silver EOD car headed toward Akure and a grey Toyota Camry headed toward Owo.
Angered by the worsening insecurity in the state, some youths on Friday took to the streets of Ayede Ogbese protesting the “incessant kidnappings and killings” in the area.
They blocked the busy Ogbese-Owo road for hours, leading to traffic gridlock and forcing motorists to abandon the road and divert through bush paths.
A youth leader, who identified herself as Justina, accused both government and security agencies of neglecting the area, linking the increasing abductions to the inefficiency of security operatives.
“We don’t have security in Ayede Ogbese anymore. The youths are the ones now providing security. This is sad and very shameful. It shows the level ineptitude of the present administration in Ondo state.”
Another protester lamented that residents were being forced to rely on self help and community youths for protection, accusing security agents of “looking the other way” as kidnappers continue to terrorise locals.
Similarly, a cross section of residents blamed the lackadaisical attitude of the state government in handling crime rate.
They lamented that since assuming office, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has failed to prioritise the security of lives and property in the state unlike his predecessor and late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Thefrontrank reports that the protest highlighted the growing anger among residents of the state over worsening insecurity.
