Residents of Ondo State are now living in fear following the resurgence of criminal activities, especially kidnapping and banditry.

Daily Trust reports that since November last year, attacks by bandits on the residents have escalated resulting in killings while many were forced to pay ransom to regain the freedom for their loved ones.

Numerous kidnapping cases, which included the abduction of 10 travelers transiting on the Benin/Owo highway at the Ipele area of Owo Local Government Area of the state, had been reported. The travelers were en route to Akure from Akwa Ibom State when they were waylaid by bandits and herded into the bush.

However, they were rescued by the operatives of the Amotekun Corps.

While Amotekun Corps went after the criminals, three farmers who were working on their farm in Akure North LGA were rounded up and marched into the thick forest by bandits.

They were released after payment of N5 million ransom, it was learnt.

The incessant kidnapping of farmers has forced many of the people to abandon their farmlands.

In January this year, no fewer than five farmers, who were working on their farms, were reportedly shot dead by bandits at Ajegunle-Powerline community also in Akure North LGA of the state.

Also, a septuagenarian was a victim of bandit attack in Ifira Akoko, Akoko LGA. She was raped by the criminal gang. The woman said she was “ruthlessly” molested by the bandits who dragged her into the bush where she was raped before the arrival of the Amotekun Corps.

“I was on my way back from the farm that fateful day after work when I saw three men approaching me. As soon as they saw me, they grabbed my hands and dragged me into the bush.

“The next thing I knew was one of them forcefully removing my clothes and penetrating me. I don’t know how I ended up with Amotekun because I was confused,” the 75-year-old woman told journalists.

Also, a health worker, Akinola Oyabiyi, was shot dead by bandits while on his way home from work. Mr Oyabiyi, 46, had tried to resist being abducted at the Eleyowo community, a stone thrown to Akure Airport. The assailants took his son away for 10 days but freed after the family paid ransom.

Soon after that, the bandits invaded a farm where they abducted a farm owner, one Mr Olanrewaju Oyeleye, and his manager.

Oyeleye, 50, had just returned to the country to invest in farming business when he was dragged into the forest along with his manager. The abductors demanded N100 million as ransom to secure the freedom of the two men.

A fortnight ago, four communities of Ademekun, Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, and Alajido, were attacked by suspected bandits who killed no fewer than 14 local farmers and burnt their homes.

The bandits also continued with their reign of terror in Akure LGA where they abducted nine surveyors who were working at a site in Ilu Abo. The bandits demanded N100 million ransoms for their freedom, but it was learned that N20 million was paid after they spent over a week in their kidnappers’ den.

Their abduction sparked protest with the demonstrators taking to the streets, lamenting the worsening security situation in the state. They took their protest to the Alagbaka governor’s office, paralysing both vehicular and human movements for several hours.

They complained that the surge in the abduction of residents in the state by bandits was alarming, and called on the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to rise to the challenge.

Also, the following Wednesday, some angry residents of the state stormed the governor’s office in Akure to protest the fresh killing of five local farmers by suspected criminal gangs. The farmers were murdered in cold-blood at Aba Oyinbo in Akure North LGA of the state. The protesters carried the dead bodies of the farmers in coffins and barricaded the governor’s office.

They expressed displeasure at the constant attacks on farmers by suspected bandits in the area.

Speaking, one of the residents in Oba Ile community in Akure North LGA of the state, Chief Olu Fagoroyo, pleaded with Governor Aiyedatiwa to rise up to the security challenge in the state.

According to him, the surge in the activities of the bandits is already affecting the social economic development of the state.

Fagoroye said people of the community were now living in fear, and many, who are farmers, have moved out of the area.

“Our governor needs to do something to prevent these bandits from entering into the community. Our governor needs to act fast. It has been a long time since this happened here. We don’t want to be experiencing it again,” he said.

Another resident, Mrs Olayemi Egbeola, who said she once escaped being abducted on Benin-Owo-Akure expressway, appealed to security agencies in the state to be more proactive.

“We are begging Mr Governor to act fast. The Amotekun Corps and the police should also double up their efforts. We know they are trying, but they should add more effort.’’

A former deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, in a statement urged the people of the state to defend themselves amid the spate of insecurity ravaging the state.

Ajayi, who is also the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s November 16 governorship poll, urged the governor to seek help in solving the challenge.

“The need to take full grip of this crisis cannot be delayed a day longer. I therefore call on the governor to seek help and take actions that will take Ondo State back from the grip of invading bandits forthwith.

“The government must, as a matter of fact, revamp Amotekun immediately and ensure the re-creation of armed forest guards that will police our forests and uproot all invading criminal elements so that peace can reign in our state,’’ he said.

However, the governing APC said the prevailing security crisis is not a unique one to the state but a national issue that is plaguing many regions.

A statement issued by Steve Otaloro, the spokesman for the party, described Mr Ajayi’s comment as unfounded and politically motivated.

“It is essential to note that the issue of insecurity is not unique to Ondo State. It is a national challenge that has plagued many regions, and attributing its emergence solely to the current administration is both misleading and unfair.”

The state Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, attributed the prevailing surge in criminality in the state to the unchecked and consistent migration of people into the state.

“There are a lot of people migrating, relocating to the southern part of the country, and they are coming in hundreds and thousands, and there is no directive coming from anywhere that this movement should be checked.

“So, there is no doubt about it that the rate at which people are migrating, relocating into Ondo State, is further worsening the prevailing security challenges we have.”

He said the command has been able to flush out some of the criminal elements, particularly from Owo and Akoko, in the last two months with the help of modern technology.

According to him, the command needs assistance from the government and other stakeholders in the state in terms of provision of patrol vans and repair of grounded patrol vehicles for timely and effective response to distress calls.

He said the command has recorded some successes in the last two weeks, arresting those behind kidnapping in the state.

Also, the commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, said the security outfit nabbed no fewer than 114 people found wandering in the forests across the state.

Mr Adeleye, who spoke with journalists, said the suspects were found in the forests without any definite purpose of being there, adding that they were conveyed in two trucks.

“Upon profiling them, it was discovered that all but three had no knowledge of where they were being taken. They had no idea. Their masters simply sent them into the forest to await further directives.’’

Adeleye said the corps has been active in ensuring that the state was safe. According to him, the Amotekun Rangers are still in the forests across the state flushing out any strangers that may want to be a security threat to the state.

“Our people should not panic. We are not relenting, as a matter of fact, recently, there has been a significant influx of strangers into our state, particularly at our borders. Trailers have been arriving and dropping off individuals who are unfamiliar with the terrain. They simply penetrate the bush, leading to an increase in criminal activities around our border towns and cities.

“To address this issue, our corps has also entered the forests to drive out these individuals. The governor has directed us to ensure that all miscreants and those with no legitimate business in the forest are removed.

Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa ha said security remained a top priority for his administration.

The governor also explained that his administration has provided significant support to security outfits, including the police, Amotekun Corps, and other agencies, equipping them with the necessary resources to enhance their operations.

“The protection of lives and property is the primary duty of any government, and that is what our administration is focused on. We have been working tirelessly with all security agencies to ensure that Ondo State remains safe for all residents.

“The security agencies are also working tirelessly to ensure that the people are safe. The state government has been supporting them and we will add more to the support.”

He reassured residents of his administration’s unwavering commitment to security and development, urging them to continue supporting government efforts in building a safer and more prosperous Ondo State.