Residents of Ilu Abo community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday staged a protest over rising insecurity following the abduction of a woman by suspected gunmen.
The protest was triggered by the kidnapping of Tomiola Oladehinde, who was reportedly abducted on Sunday evening at the entrance of her residence. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers stormed the area, opened fire on the victim’s vehicle, and shot its fuel tank and tyres to force it to stop before taking her away to an unknown location.
An eyewitness said the gunmen also shot at neighbours who raised the alarm and attempted to seek help. The attack caused panic in the community, leading to a stampede during which three residents—a man, a woman, and her daughter—sustained gunshot injuries. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Angered by the incident, hundreds of residents took to the streets, barricading major roads and chanting solidarity songs. Protesters carried placards bearing messages such as “We say no to banditry,” “We seek Mr Governor’s attention,” and “Mr Governor, save our souls.”
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Speaking during the protest, a community leader, Reverend Johnson Adajah, said the demonstration was meant to draw attention to persistent security challenges in the area. He disclosed that four residents were attacked overnight, three were seriously injured, and one was abducted.
“We are appealing to the governor and security agencies to urgently address this issue and protect our community. We cannot continue to live in fear,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said in a statement on Monday that armed men attacked residents, abducted one person, and injured several others.
He explained that about six unidentified gunmen ambushed and shot one John Ofuduwa while he was driving into his residence in a Toyota Camry with Abuja registration number GWA 674 CM, leaving him with a gunshot wound.
“In the same incident, a neighbour, Oladehinde Tomiola, who was about to enter her compound, was abducted. Two other persons—Victoria and her 11-year-old daughter, Victoria Olorunfemi—also sustained varying degrees of injuries from the gunfire,” Jimoh stated.
He added that all the injured victims were taken to the hospital for medical care.
Jimoh further revealed that the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, visited the community on Monday to assess the situation and engage with residents. He said the commissioner strongly condemned the attack and assured the community that security measures had been reinforced with additional tactical and intelligence-led operations to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent future attacks.