Ondo Residents In Panic As State Grapples With Rising Abductions

Ondo, long celebrated as a bastion of tranquility in the South-West, is now confronting a chilling reality, a surge in kidnappings that has shaken communities and left residents gripped by fear. DAMILOLA ORIGBEMISUYI reports on the escalating abduction crisis threatening the state’s once-peaceful reputation.

The sudden spike in kidnappings has upended the daily lives of Ondo residents, with schools, markets, and highways increasingly becoming flashpoints of fear. Community leaders and security agencies are scrambling to respond, yet the perpetrators continue to evade capture, leaving a trail of anxiety and uncertainty.

Many families are now forced to rethink routines, limit travel, and invest in private security, highlighting the deepening impact of insecurity on both social and economic life in the state.

The growing tension in Ondo State escalated sharply following a brazen attack in Akure, the state capital, where suspected gunmen targeted the Comprehensive Health Centre in the Oke-Ijebu area on March 28. Health workers on duty were abducted in a chilling raid that underscored the vulnerability of even critical public institutions.

Reports indicate that the attackers executed the operation with alarming coordination, storming the facility around 2:00 a.m. and forcing their victims into a waiting vehicle. The assault sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood, as residents awoke to news of yet another violent breach in the heart of the state capital. “If such an attack can happen in Akure, where is truly safe?” many questioned, voicing the mounting fear and uncertainty gripping the community.

Fortunately, the abducted health workers were later found abandoned in a bush along the Ondo-Akure Expressway, after being forced to withdraw money from their bank accounts and surrender their valuables. They were swiftly rescued by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, bringing a measure of relief to a community already shaken by fear.

The audacious attack has since ignited widespread concern, particularly due to its occurrence within the heart of Akure metropolis, a development residents warn signals a dangerous escalation of criminal activity across the state.

Trail Of Kidnappings Across Communities In 2026

Beyond the high-profile abduction of health workers, security concerns in Ondo State have been mounting since the start of the year. On the very same day, armed men intercepted a 45-year-old man and his teenage son along the Oda-Akure road in the early hours, whisking them away into a nearby bush path. Prompt intervention by security operatives eventually led to their rescue, but the incident added to a growing sense of unease among residents, who now fear that such attacks could occur anywhere, at any time.

On March 1, the lifeless body of a youth leader, Ojo Abbey, was discovered near the Edo–Ondo border in Isua Akoko, a community in the Akoko South East local government area. Abbey had been reportedly kidnapped on February 22, 2026, while returning from Ibilo in Edo State. Residents alleged that armed men, suspected to be herders, intercepted him and dragged him into the dense forests along the border. In a desperate bid to save him, local youths and hunters launched a coordinated search, combing nearby forests for days. Tragically, their efforts ended in heartbreak when Abbey’s body was found, underscoring the growing threat of violent crime in the state.

Barely days later, on March 4, suspected kidnappers struck the home of a local tomato farmer in Isagba Community, Akure, abducting his wife and leaving him injured in the attack. The victim, Adesida Daniel, reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to his right hand while trying to resist the assailants, who forcefully dragged his wife away. Witnesses recounted hearing gunshots reverberate across the neighborhood, sending residents fleeing in panic and deepening the climate of fear in the community.

The wave of kidnappings showed no sign of abating. On March 9, gunmen abducted the secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Joseph Aladesuyi, along with two others, while they were working on a farm in Ilu-Abo, a community in Akure North local government area. The assailants fired gunshots into the air, throwing farmers, workers, and residents into panic before whisking the victims away. Barely 24 hours later, a family source revealed that the kidnappers had contacted them, demanding a staggering ransom of N100 million, highlighting the brazen nature and high stakes of these attacks.

Furthermore, on February 18, gunmen abducted and killed a traditional ruler. The victim, Oba Kehinde Jacob Faledon, was the traditional ruler of Ahungha Village in the Agamo Area of the state. He was reportedly attacked at his residence around 7:10 p.m. Police said about six armed men stormed the monarch’s residence, forcibly took him from his compound and fled the scene to an unknown destination. The royal father was later discovered a few metres away from his residence with gunshot wounds. He was confirmed dead at the scene.

Subsequently, on February 20, gunmen struck again, abducting a couple and shooting their neighbour during a brazen attack in Iluabo community, in the Akure North Local Government Area of the state. The victim Mr. Jamiu Olawale and his wife were reportedly attacked shortly after returning home from their shop. Sources said the couple had just arrived at their residence in an ash-coloured Toyota Camry when unknown gunmen suddenly emerged from a nearby bush and accosted them at the frontage of their house. During the attack, a neighbour, Mr. Patrick Ilumaro, who was seated in front of his residence, sustained a gunshot wound.

Similarly, on February 25, suspected kidnappers reportedly stormed a church along the Owo axis of Ondo State during an early morning service, abducting six worshippers including pregnant women. The attackers were said to have whisked the victims into the forest. This particular case sparked panic in the state with majority calling for stronger security measures around religious houses and gatherings.

All these are few reported cases of insecurity crises among many others that went unreported. Sadly, most of these incidents occurred at the outskirt of the state capital.

Stakeholders Express Concern Over Rising Crime Incidents

Against this backdrop, stakeholders have stepped up calls for urgent and coordinated action to address the deepening crisis of insecurity in Ondo State.

Speaking after the adoption of health workers in the heart of the state capital, The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Jude Arogundade, decried the rising insecurity in the state.  He accused the government of not being serious and giving way for gunmen to invade the state including the capital.

The cleric also lamented the rising rate of killings and abductions within the state, noting that insecurity was fast becoming a recurring tragedy affecting communities across his diocese.

He said ” I don’t think our government is serious, again. I will just say that because if you look at our town here in Akure, Akure is being invaded. These strange people coming in, where are they coming from and the government will say they don’t know what is going on?

“They (strange people ) are particularly taking hold of strategic place and everybody is looking helpless, until they begin to strike and kill everybody again before people begin to react. Within one year, not even up to one year, Akure has been invaded and the government will tell you they don’t know about it? Even the small child in the street knows what is going on.”

Also, the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Organisation, Afenifere, has decried the raising cases of insecurity in the state and other South-West state as well. The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Jare Ajayi, said that instances of terror acts and kidnapping are numerous. He was emphatic that the problem is not insurmountable as bandits are not spirits or invisible.

He submitted that one of the ways to tackle the challenge should be blocking the sources of funding for these bandits. The sources he said include some unscrupulous wealthy individuals, organizations (local and international), among others.

“Confessions of some of them (gunmen/kidnappers) that had been apprehended and tried revealed that they had sponsors. As such, what needed to be done include going decisively after the sponsors of the bandits and their middlemen, blocking the sources of their funding and weapons, raiding the bushes in which they harbour, effectively block corruption and sabotage in the forces, empowering and motivating security personnel as well as the immediate take-off of state police,” Afenifere said.

Security Agencies Respond to Criminal Activities

Security agencies in Ondo State are increasingly in the spotlight as concerns mount over pockets of insecurity reported in different parts of the state. The police which is the primary agency of security in the state has decried that geographical and environmental factors have complicate policing. According to the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, thick mangrove forests, bush tracks, and isolated settlements in areas such as Iluabo, Agemo, and Ipele make rapid intervention difficult. He noted that some forested areas host numerous camps, with people sometimes brought in from other states without proper profiling, creating blind spots that criminals exploit.

Lawal also said that religious and social activities conducted at night also heighten vulnerabilities when security authorities are not informed. He stressed that while communities must develop, security considerations should be factored into planning, as no area is entirely crime-free. Rapid response is often hampered by distance and difficult terrain, allowing perpetrators to operate with relative impunity.

He said “There are environmental and geographical factors in Ondo North. Some people invite others from places like Kogi or Benue without profiling them. You do not even know what they are doing, but when incidents happen, it becomes the police’s responsibility. We accept the challenge, and we believe that with collaboration, we will get results. If you look at the incidents of kidnapping in Akure North, most of the victims live in isolated areas, the same with Ilu Abo. We are not saying people should not build there, because we cannot prevent development. But we must consider security implications.

He emphasized that security is a collective responsibility, not solely the duty of the police or military. He added “Police are the lead agency when it comes to internal security, but we should not be left alone. The community, and local government chairmen should play their parts, then we will play our own part. With this concerted effort, we will not have these issues.”

In several cases, operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codename Amotekun Corps,have intervened, rescuing victims and engaging criminals in coordinated operations. However, residents say the frequency of attacks indicates that more proactive measures are needed to prevent further incidents.

Residents Bear the Brunt of Ongoing Security Concerns

Beyond the immediate threat to lives, the insecurity situation is also affecting economic and social activities. Traders, transport operators, and business owners are increasingly adjusting their schedules, with many avoiding movement during early morning and late-night hours.

For farmers, the impact of the crisis has been immediate and painful. Many farmers now limit how far they venture into plantations while some have abandoned distant plots entirely. “I cannot risk my life for harvest,” a farmer in Akoko said. He added “I ventured into farming to feed myself and family, but what benefits will that be if I’m kidnapped and my family is left to raise ransom that they surely cannot afford? It’s better I remain alive for my family.”

The economic consequences are beginning to show as prices of foodstuffs continue to increased on daily basis. Reduced farming hours mean lower output while lower outputs may eventually lead to scarcity of food.

For families who have endured the trauma of abduction, the scars linger long after release. Victims often return with emotional distress, while relatives struggle with debts incurred to secure freedom. “When my friend was kidnapped, I had to send money to his family who are trying to raise ransom payment despite the fact that I wasn’t financially buoyant myself,” said Wale, a friend of a kidnapped victim.

Government Blames Local Collaborators for Security Breaches

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‎The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, has attributed recent security breaches in the state to the activities of local collaborators working with criminal elements. While acknowledging the wider security crisis in Nigeria, he maintained that Ondo State has largely remained stable, noting that the current administration has not recorded any major security breach in nearly one year. However, recent incidents, including those earlier listed contradict this position.

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‎Ajanaku further highlighted measures already put in place to strengthen security, including the ban on commercial motorcycle operations in certain areas and restrictions on cart pushers. He assured residents that surveillance has been intensified across the state capital and other major towns, insisting that the government remains firmly on top of the situation and committed to protecting lives and property.

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‎He said “There is a security crisis in Nigeria. The reality is that everything is being put in place to ensure the safety of lives and property in Ondo State.

‎You will recall that since this government came on board, there has not been any major security breach in Ondo State for almost one year now. So the pockets of security issues you have seen in recent times, like we said, are also the handiwork of some locals who are collaborating with armed robbers and other criminal elements to carry out kidnappings in the state.

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‎”However, these security breaches are being addressed by the Ondo State Government. We have also discovered that many measures have been put in place by the state government, such as the banning of okada and restricting the activities of cart pushers in various parts of the state. I can assure you that security has been strengthened across the state capital and other cities in the state. So we are on top of the situation.”

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‎Analyst Faults Government’s Safety Claim

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‎Reacting to the Ondo State Government’s claim that the state is safe, public affairs analyst, Dr. Olugbenga Abimbola, described the assertion as misleading and not reflective of realities on ground. He pointed to recurring cases of killings and abductions across highways, communities, and even Akure as clear signs that insecurity remains widespread.

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‎He said “Those of us living in the state and outside the state know that all is not well. There are several reports, and those reports are not fake, people being killed on highways, farmlands, and in forests, people being picked up at home and even in towns. The state capital is not excluded.

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‎He warned that the situation could escalate if urgent steps are not taken, urging stronger collaboration among security agencies.

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‎”So why should the governor say Ondo State is safe? The rising wave of insecurity in Ondo is so devastating, and something urgent has to be done. If something is not done urgently, things will get out of hand. Bandits are now going into people’s homes to pick them up. We heard of the incident that happened in a hospital at the heart of Akure. Insecurity is much around us in Ondo State; the earlier the government does something, the better.

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‎Abimbola also called for improved funding of Amotekun and a more proactive approach by the police to address the growing threat.

He added, “Federal and state agencies must work hand in hand. Amotekun must be well funded, and the police and other security agencies must up their game in tackling insecurity in Ondo State.”

Despite repeated assurances from the government and security authorities, residents continue to live in fear, sleeping with one eye open as anxiety mounts over who might be the next victim of the escalating wave of violence.