Former Ondo State Deputy Governor, Chief Agboola Ajayi, has raised concerns over the rising cases of kidnapping and violent crimes in the state, stating that residents are in distress.

His statement follows the recent killings of at least 25 people by suspected herdsmen in Akure North Local Government Area within the past two weeks. Bandits also reportedly invaded and sacked four communities in the same council area. On Wednesday, another five persons were killed in an attack on Aba Oyinbo in Akure North.

Ajayi, in a statement issued in Akure, lamented that Ondo State had been in the news for the wrong reasons, attributing the crisis to the alleged failure of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.

“For the past few weeks, Ondo State has been troubled by an emerging culture of kidnapping, banditry, and killings. As of the last count, nearly a hundred people have been killed by criminals who invaded our state.

“Today, the people of Akure, frustrated by this worsening situation, stormed the Government Office to express their outrage, yet the APC-led government of Governor Aiyedatiwa has no answers,” he said.

Ajayi recalled that while serving as deputy governor from 2017 to 2021 under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, security measures were implemented to curb banditry, including restrictions on open grazing.

“We enforced a ban on open grazing, which restored sanity. Unfortunately, those gains have been lost, and now the people are suffering.

“The lethargy with which Governor Aiyedatiwa is handling the affairs of our state underscores his ill-preparedness and incompetence.





https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/insecurity-ondo-people-in-pain-former-deputy-gov-raises-alarm/