Young people and local residents stage demonstration against ongoing kidnappings and murders in Ondo

In a display of outrage, youths and residents from Imafon, Igushin, and Ilado communities in Ondo State's Akure North Local Government Area took to the streets on Saturday to condemn the recent surge in abductions and killings in their area.

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The protesters, armed with branches, blockaded the busy Shoprite intersection, mere meters from the Governor's Office, as they lamented that the vicious attacks had left their communities in a state of perpetual mourning.

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A devastating incident occurred on Thursday when gunmen claimed the lives of a poultry farmer and her daughter in Igushin community, while two others were fortunate enough to be rescued by the police.

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Another brutal attack took place on Friday in Ilado community, where a well-known youth was mercilessly macheted and shot while attempting to escape abduction.

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Kunle, a youth leader, expressed his frustration to newsmen, stating that gunmen had been operating with impunity across the state, particularly in Akure and its surrounding areas.

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He emphasized that the protests were a direct response to the relentless killings and kidnappings that had become a daily occurrence in Imafon, Igushin, and Ilado, citing the tragic killing of a mother and daughter just two days prior, as well as the brutal macheting of another individual the previous day.

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Kunle demanded that the government fulfill its duties, questioning the allocation of the monthly security votes in the state, as the community had yet to witness any tangible impact.

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The youth leader voiced his exasperation, stating that the community was weary of holding weekly funerals for their loved ones, while those responsible for their protection seemed to be doing nothing, allowing gunmen to roam freely in the state capital without consequence.

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Kunle posed a poignant question, asking where the security votes were being utilized, given the noticeable absence of security presence, patrols, and meaningful results.

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The youth leader vowed that residents would persist in their demands until the government took concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of their lives and properties.