Angry residents in parts of Ondo and Oyo states blocked major highways Tuesday, protesting a wave of killings and kidnappings that communities say has left people living in constant fear.

In Ondo State, youths in Akure North Local Government Area barricaded the busy Akure–Owo highway and placed the bodies of two victims killed by gunmen on the road. Traffic quickly backed up along the route, a key link between southern Nigeria and the northern part of the country.

Residents from Ilu-Abo, Kajola and Owode communities said the protest followed a fresh attack earlier in the day when armed men killed two people and abducted three others.

The demonstrators carried placards and chanted songs while demanding urgent intervention from the state government. Some of the messages read: “We Are Dying, Save Our Soul,” and “Mr. Governor, Please Assist Us.”

Kidnapping of council official raises tension

The protest came less than a day after gunmen abducted Joseph Aladesuyi, the secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area in Akoko North West Local Government Area. Aladesuyi, who is also the managing director of Jotina Farms, was kidnapped on his farm in Ilu-Abo community near the Akure Airport along with two others.

Family sources said the kidnappers contacted them early Tuesday and demanded a ransom of N100 million.

“They called this morning around 7 a.m. and asked for N100 million before they would release him,” a family source said. “They didn’t allow us to say much before ending the call.”

The source added that Aladesuyi was reportedly shot in one hand during the attack.

Residents reject police appeal to reopen road

Tensions in the community rose further when the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, visited the area to calm residents. Protesters, however, refused his appeal to reopen the highway and insisted they would remain there until Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa personally addressed their concerns.

Lawal assured the community that additional police personnel and tactical units would be deployed to strengthen security in the area. He also said operatives of the state security network Amotekun were working with police to improve safety.

Police said they recently arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin, Abdullahi Lawal, linked to criminal activities in the Ikare-Akoko area after months of intelligence operations.

Similar protest erupts in Oyo community

Meanwhile, a similar protest unfolded in Jobele community in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, where residents blocked the Ibadan–Oyo Road to protest repeated cases of kidnapping and banditry.

The demonstrators said suspected kidnappers attacked a community along the axis on Monday and attempted to abduct a woman. She escaped by scaling a fence but suffered a deep machete wound on her hand.

Residents cite rising kidnapping incidents

Local officials say the area has recorded at least seven kidnapping incidents in recent months, heightening fears among residents.

“We are not going to leave the road until our safety is guaranteed,” one protester said.

Oyo State police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka said the commissioner of police had deployed officers, including the area commander and the divisional police officer, to the scene to restore order and reopen the highway.