A group of youths in Ondo State, operating as the Akure Youths Coalition, has called on the state government to urgently address rising insecurity in Akure North and South Local Government Areas. In a statement issued on Monday by leaders Ogundipe O'Seyi and Adekanbi Oluwatuyi, the coalition expressed deep concern over recent killings and abductions in Imafon, Igushin and Ilado communities. On Saturday, residents of these areas staged a protest in Akure, blocking the ShopRite Junction near the Governor's Office, causing prolonged traffic disruptions. Protesters carried leaves and sang solidarity songs as they voiced frustration over deteriorating security. The coalition cited a recent attack in Igushin where gunmen killed a mother and her daughter at a poultry farm, with others abducted. Similar incidents were reported in Ilado and Imafon. The group condemned the violence, attributing it to armed Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers and bandits. While acknowledging efforts by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa's administration, the youths stated that persistent attacks have overshadowed government achievements. They demanded functional security outposts by the Nigerian Police Force, NSCDC and Amotekun Corps, deployment of drones and real-time monitoring systems, and revocation of land allocated to suspected criminals. The coalition also urged collaboration among political leaders, traditional rulers and corporate bodies to develop sustainable security solutions.
The Akure Youths Coalition's protest reveals a growing disconnect between government security assurances and the lived reality in rural Ondo communities. Despite Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa's administration being credited with proactive measures, the killing of a mother and daughter in Igushin—and the subsequent citizen-led blockade at ShopRite Junction—shows that state efforts are not translating into safety on the ground. The fact that residents resorted to marching with leaves as symbols of distress underscores the depth of helplessness in these communities.
This unrest is not just about crime; it reflects the fraying of trust in local governance and security architecture. The coalition's specific demand to revoke land allocations to suspected criminals points to a deeper suspicion that some state policies may inadvertently enable insecurity. The naming of Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers and bandits in the statement also signals rising ethnic and communal tensions, which, if left unaddressed, could inflame local conflicts. The protest at a high-visibility location near the Governor's Office was a deliberate act to force attention, revealing that youth groups now see public pressure as more effective than official channels.
Ordinary residents in Akure North and South are paying the price through lost livelihoods, trauma and displacement. Farmers in Imafon and Ilado can no longer work without fear, and families are altering daily routines to avoid attacks. The call for drones and surveillance suggests a demand for modern, visible security presence—not just promises.
This episode fits a broader national pattern: state governments lauded for development efforts are simultaneously losing control of rural security, exposing a dangerous gap between infrastructure progress and human safety.
