Tag: Ondo state

The National Association of Akure Students (NAAS) has urged political, traditional, and community leaders in Akure Kingdom to take immediate and coordinated action to tackle rising security concerns in the Ondo State capital.

The association warned that inaction could lead to avoidable tragedies similar to recent violent incidents in Kwara and Kebbi states.

NAAS President, Comrade Temitope Festus Adeyemi, made the appeal in a statement, expressing deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation. He cited attacks on a girls’ school in Kebbi, the killing of a senior military officer, and the kidnapping and murder of Christians in Kwara as alarming examples.

Adeyemi cautioned that the growing pattern of violent attacks, abductions, and infrastructural neglect in parts of Akure and surrounding communities should not be ignored.

He stressed that the tragedies in Kwara and Kebbi were largely due to systemic neglect, slow responses to distress calls, and the absence of a preventive security strategy, urging Akure leaders to learn from these incidents before similar events occur.

“The recent attack in Ekuru, Kwara State, should shake every responsible leader in Akure. A quiet community was suddenly thrown into fear – the kind many believed would never reach them. Before that, we witnessed the heartbreaking Owo Church massacre, where innocent worshippers were murdered inside the house of God.

“These are not distant stories. There are signs that Yoruba communities are being tested from different directions. If Akure continues to behave as if these dangers are far away, we deceive ourselves. Our weakness today is the growing culture of everyone minding their own business. When communities disconnect, they become vulnerable,” he said.

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Adeyemi stressed that Akure’s fast-growing population requires stronger coordination among government agencies, community associations, and security operatives, calling for early engagements involving the state government, local councils, Amotekun Corps, market leaders, and traditional rulers.

According to him, the city must rebuild its culture of communal responsibility “in a modern, organized and lawful structure,” beginning with the establishment of government-approved vigilance teams in all neighbourhoods.

“When properly structured, these teams can monitor those entering the community, new tenants, and suspicious movements at odd hours. We also need effective communication systems – WhatsApp groups, radio alerts, and organized reporting channels. When information moves fast, danger loses its advantage.

“Amotekun cannot stand alone. Communities must support them while also demanding improvement. They need our reports, our cooperation, and pressure on the government to equip them better and respond faster,” he said.

The NAAS President also emphasized the importance of documentation, stressing that every suspicious movement, attempted attack, land dispute, or threat must be documented.

“Take pictures, take videos, keep dates and locations, file police reports, send petitions, and share verified evidence with the media and human rights groups. When facts are documented, no leader can pretend not to know,” Adeyemi said.

He described land-related disputes as a major security risk across Yorubaland and called for disciplined record-keeping to prevent conflicts.

Adeyemi further stressed the need for cultural harmony, urging residents to restore respect for elders, support genuine grassroots leaders, and avoid religious and political divisions.

He encouraged residents to join neighbourhood watch networks and promptly report suspicious activities, saying political leaders must also be held accountable for the security of Akure.

“Security is not only physical; it is also political. Community education must be prioritized. An informed population is safer than one living in fear or confusion.

“Our unity must also extend beyond Nigeria. Yoruba people in the diaspora have networks and resources that can support our security advocacy.”

He, however, urged all Akure stakeholders – traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, political actors, and residents – to act collectively.

“Ekuru should open our eyes.

Owo should end any false sense of security. The tension in neighbouring states should wake us up,” he said.

The Gallery Security Service, a private security organisation, has said it has engaged no fewer than 1,000 youths across Ondo State to provide surveillance and security along waterways and coastal communities.

General Manager, Mr. Anthony Onyeisue, said this yesterday during the organisation’s 13th anniversary celebration in Agadagba Obon, Ese Odo Local Government Area of the state.

He said the recruitment drive was part of the company’s efforts to curb criminal activities in riverine areas and provide employment to youths.

According to him, youth empowerment remains central to Gallery’s crime-reduction strategy.

“Youth unemployment remains a major challenge everywhere in the country, and to address this, we have employed over 1,000 personnel, providing jobs and keeping young people away from criminal activities,” he said.

He noted that the company worked closely with conventional security agencies, including the police and the military, even though it did not possess prosecutorial powers or access to military-grade equipment.

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“We are restricted from using equipment such as drones, but our partnership with the military allows us to draw on their capabilities. We use everyday devices such as mobile phones and walkie-talkies effectively,” he added.

The GM said the security outfit had assisted in the arrest of criminals, who were handed over to the police for prosecution.

“Any criminal we identify is handed over directly to the police. We do not keep statistics, but I can tell you that a good number of those arrested are at correctional centres, including Olokuta,” he said.

Onyeisue says Gallery Security Service operates under the regulations of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), mirroring the national community-policing model.

He revealed that the organisation’s operations extended beyond Ondo State.

“We have an agreement with Ondo State Government to manage its waterways, which serve as a gateway to Niger Delta and Lagos.

“Although our headquarters is in Ondo, we operate in Lagos, Akure, Benin and other parts of the country. Once accredited by the NSCDC, we can operate anywhere in Nigeria, and we are working toward building a global brand,” he said.

• Govt: we will fix it 

Aggrieved residents of Ijoka in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday protested the deplorable condition of Ijoka/Ijo Mimo Access Road.

The protesters, who trooped out in the morning, blocked the entrance to  Ijoka Road, lamenting that it had become impassable and a source of daily hardship for commuters and residents.

Chanting anti-government songs, the demonstrators decried what they described as the government’s neglect of the area, noting that the poor condition of the road had caused accidents and worsened living conditions for residents.

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Speaking during the protest, one of the residents, Ayanfe Adeyemi, said the road had ben abandoned for about four years.

“For the past three to four years, it has been the worst experience so far. Whether during the rainy season or dry season, you can’t enjoy this road,” Adeyemi lamented.

Addressing the protesters, the Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Gbenga Fasua, who ran into the protesters, assured them that the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa administration had not abandoned the road.

He said efforts were ongoing to fix the road and promised that work would resume soon.