Vehicular movement along the busy Akure–Owo highway was brought to a standstill as residents of Ilu-Abo and neighbouring communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State barricaded the road in protest against the worsening security situation in the area.
The affected communities, located near the Akure Airport axis, said they could no longer cope with the growing wave of insecurity, which they claimed has resulted in frequent killings and kidnappings in recent months.
The protest disrupted traffic along the major highway linking the southern parts of the country to the northern region, leaving commuters stranded for several hours.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the demonstrators called on the government to urgently intervene and address the security challenges ravaging their communities.
Although the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, visited the scene and appealed to the residents to allow the free flow of traffic, the protesters initially refused to vacate the highway, insisting that their lives were constantly under threat.
Lawal assured the residents that security agencies, including the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) and the police, would intensify efforts to safeguard lives and property in the affected communities.
The police commissioner also visited the traditional ruler of Ilu-Abo, Olu Falae, where he briefed the monarch on steps being taken by security agencies to curb the insecurity in the town.
He added that additional police personnel and tactical units would be deployed to restore safety in the area.
