By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The Ondo State socio-cultural group, Ooye Development Initiatives (ODI), has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritize security following a surge in kidnappings, killings, and ransom demands in Akure North and South.

In a statement, ODI President Tokunbo Jegede described the situation as alarming, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention.

“The rising cases of kidnapping and killings in parts of Akure and the state at large have become increasingly frightening,” Jegede said. “The state government must act swiftly to protect the lives and property of its citizens.”

He lamented the vulnerability of residents, stating that criminals are operating freely, “shedding innocent blood, killing, and maiming without any significant government response.”

The group further warned that the affected areas are key to Ondo State’s agricultural economy. “These incessant attacks are scaring away investors and crippling the state’s economy,” the statement read.

ODI reminded the government that its primary duty—and the reason it was elected—is to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens. It cautioned that failure to do so could force people to resort to self-help.

“The people of Akure North and South, and indeed all of Ondo State, want to feel the government’s protective presence in their daily lives. Right now, they don’t. If this trend continues, the people may have no choice but to take matters into their own hands. This could lead us into a Hobbesian state where life is nasty, brutish, and short,” the group warned.