A wave of fear has swept through the Eleyewo agrarian community in the Akure North local government area of Ondo State following a violent raid by gunmen that resulted in the abduction of a couple and the shooting of their neighbor. The daring nature of the attack has left the local population on edge, sparking immediate and widespread protests.
The victims, identified as Mr. Jamiu Olawale and his wife, were targeted just as they arrived at their residence in Olaribigba Estate, Iluabo. The couple had reportedly just closed their shop for the day and were pulling up in their Toyota Camry when the armed men emerged from the nearby bushes. The hoodlums seized the couple and forced them away to an unknown destination, firing shots into the air to scare off any potential rescuers.
During the chaos, a neighbor named Mr. Patrick Ilumaro, who was sitting outside his own home at the time, was caught in the crossfire. He sustained a serious gunshot wound while attempting to raise an alarm. He was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital where he remains in critical condition. The sudden violence caused many other residents to flee into the darkness for safety as the sound of gunfire echoed through the community.
The morning following the attack, angry residents took to the streets to express their frustration over the dwindling security in the area. The protesters blocked the busy Akure-Owo highway, chanting songs and calling on the Ondo State Government and security agencies to take decisive action. Many expressed heartbreak that such a peaceful farming community has become a playground for kidnappers and violent criminals.
Confirming the incident to Reports, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, stated that the attack occurred late Friday night at approximately 9:45 p.m. He detailed that the police received the distress call shortly after the gunmen vanished into the surrounding thicket with their captives. Security teams have since been deployed to track the kidnappers and ensure the safe return of the Olawales.
This latest tragedy comes at a particularly sensitive time for the region. It occurred just two days after a similar act of violence claimed the life of the traditional ruler of Agamo Community, Oba Kehinde Falodun, who was killed in his palace. The back-to-back nature of these attacks has intensified the calls for a complete overhaul of the security architecture within the local government to protect lives and property.
