**Ondo Residents Take to the Streets in Protest of Repeated Kidnappings** In a desperate bid to draw attention to their plight, residents of Ilu Abo and other communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have taken to the streets to protest the recurring cases of kidnapping in their area. The protests, which began early on Tuesday morning, saw residents barricading the busy Akure-Owo expressway, disrupting traffic for several hours. This move was a reaction to the two separate incidents of kidnapping that occurred in less than 24 hours. On Monday, a local government official and a woman were abducted, causing panic in the area and forcing schools to close temporarily. Later that night, three more people were taken by heavily armed men who attacked the Ilu-Abo area, shooting sporadically and leaving one person dead. The protesters, who used logs of wood, motor tyres, and other objects to block the road, brought the lifeless body of the victim to the scene, chanting protest songs and demanding urgent government intervention to address the persistent insecurity around the airport road and adjoining communities. One of the protesters, who spoke to journalists during the protest, expressed frustration at the frequency of kidnapping incidents in the area and accused the government of failing to take decisive action to protect lives and property. He called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to personally address the rising insecurity. "We are tired of this situation," he lamented. "Almost every day now, we hear about kidnapping around the airport road. Yesterday, a council secretary was kidnapped, and today, again, one person has been killed while three others have been taken away by gunmen. The government is not doing anything to protect us. People are living in fear, and many farmers can no longer go to their farms." This protest is a stark reminder of the security challenges facing many communities in Nigeria, particularly in the South-West region. The people of Ondo State are demanding action from their government to ensure their safety and security. Will the government heed their call and take decisive action to address this crisis? Only time will tell.