Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has assured residents that his administration will enhance security measures and equip security agencies to address rising insecurity, particularly in Akure North Local Government Area. His statement follows a deadly attack last Saturday that left 14 people dead in four communities, Ademekun, Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, and Alajido. Additionally, nine surveyors were abducted in Ilu Abo Community, sparking a protest by hundreds of women, though they were later released.
Reacting to the violence, the regent of Ademekun Community, Princess Kemisola Adelowo, expressed deep concern over the killings and urged the state government to deploy security personnel to prevent further attacks. She recounted receiving threats from the attackers and called on the governor for urgent intervention.
Although Governor Aiyedatiwa initially denied reports of the killings, he later reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property. Addressing journalists, he emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to support security agencies and announced plans to procure advanced equipment, including trackers and drones, to strengthen security operations.
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Survivors of the attack shared harrowing accounts of their ordeal. John, a resident of Aba Sunday Community who sustained a gunshot wound, described how the attackers stormed the area at night, shooting indiscriminately. He managed to escape and hide in a cocoa plantation until morning. Another survivor, Solomon Simon, recalled hearing gunshots around 2 a.m. and fleeing before the attackers reached his home. Both men identified the assailants as Fulani herdsmen but expressed confusion over the motive behind the attack.
In response to the incident, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Wilfred, visited the affected communities, met with survivors, and deployed the command’s homicide department to the area. He urged residents to report incidents promptly and verify information before dissemination to prevent unnecessary panic.
