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| Source: Punch |
Hundreds of distraught youths in the Ogbese community of Akure North Local Government Area, Ondo State, staged a violent protest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, following the alleged murder of a local farmer by suspected gunmen. The demonstrators blocked the busy Akure-Owo Expressway for several hours, paralysing vehicular movement and demanding immediate government intervention to address the deteriorating security situation in the region.
The victim, identified as Ben Daniels, was reportedly ambushed and killed while heading to a farm camp on Monday evening. According to official reports, the deceased was traveling on a motorcycle with a companion, James Unekwu, when they were attacked. While Unekwu managed to escape the assailants, Daniels was murdered and his body was subsequently abandoned along the roadside, sparking outrage among the local residents who cite a rise in kidnappings and violence.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, stated that the matter was reported on Monday and that preliminary investigations are already underway. Jimoh noted that the police have evacuated the corpse for an autopsy and are currently holding the survivor in protective custody to assist with the investigation. He emphasised that the authorities are working to determine if there was any internal conspiracy involved in the ambush.
In response to the unrest, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa expressed deep concern over the security breach. Speaking through a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Idowu Ajanaku, the governor suggested that local collaborators might be facilitating criminal activities within the state.
"The protection of lives and property remains the foremost priority of the Ondo State Government, and no individual or group will be allowed to undermine the peace, security, and stability of our dear state," the governor stated. He further urged traditional rulers and residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to the authorities immediately.
