The notion that Ondo State is among one of the most peaceful states in the country is fast eroding it.
No thanks to the persistent cases of armed robbery attacks and kidnappings on major highways across the state.
The rising cases of kidnapping in the State took another dimension over the weekend as no less than four cases, in various parts of the state, were recorded.
Three people were reported to have been abducted on Friday within Oba-Akoko axis of the Owo-Akoko highway after the kidnappers blocked the expressway and shot sporadically in the air before moving their victims into the bush.
Also on Saturday evening, between Ogbese and Ilu-Abo axis of Akure-Owo expressway, some persons who were on transit were kidnapped, including three children. 
A lecturer from the department of Mass Communications, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Dr. Rahman Abubakri, who escaped being kidnapped by the whiskers at Ilu Abo area of Akure on Saturday, disclosed that some people including a yet to be identified lecturer from the department of Marketing, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo fell victims of the gunmen.
 “Around 5:20 pm, yesterday, I narrowly escaped being kidnapped around Iluabo on my way to Akure after a wedding ceremony I attended at Omuo Ekiti.
“Nigerians are under siege. I saw the fulanis shooting sporadically from a distance. The bushes and tick forests we don’t care to go into have been well studied by the Fulanis. Unfortunately, some kids were taken away by the kidnappers.
“Almost the same time, a lecturer of the Department of Marketing, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, was kidnapped by the same Fulani herdsmen between Ipele and Owo Road.
“Another kidnapping took place at Oba Akoko. Three persons fell victim as they were taken away into the bush. My colleagues missed being kidnapped on Friday evening,” he narrated.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said police teams had already been dispatched and were on the trail of the kidnappers.
“We have resolved to increase our manpower on our roads with more patrol to reduce the activities of these criminals to the barest minimum.
“I can assure you that justice will be done and the search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts, to find those responsible and bring them to justice,” the PPRO stated.
Meanwhile, the surge in the kidnap cases in the state has become a huge concern as residents are beginning to have sleepless nights, particularly when it requires transiting from one end of the state to the other.
Tunji Tiamiyu, a resident in the state who accused the police of not doing enough, alleged that they only demanded money from helpless citizens instead of moving against the gunmen.
He also alleged that the governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been too relaxed with the situation which he said was becoming extremely embarrassing.
Also, a road user, who was on transit through the state, Chidoke Okere attributed the daring activities of the kidnapper to the removal of military checkpoints from various spots of the state’s highways.
According to him “the road (Owo-Akoko road) is in terrible shape, almost everyone going or coming from Abuja by road do pass through here. I used to see soldiers at some sections of the road but it’s surprising that they are no longer there.
“Honestly, it calls for concern,” he said.
Recalled that some weeks back, some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress, ADC including the state chairman and its Ondo North Senatorial Candidate fell victims of the kidnappers after coming from a political meeting.
Also three members of staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, FMC among whom was a pregnant medical doctor, were kidnapped two weeks ago while on their way to work. They were later released after huge ransom had been collected.
On the 4th of this month, four persons were abducted by some suspected gunmen on the Akure-Owo Expressway at Amurin Village in Owo, Owo local government area of the state.
The persistent kidnap cases had also been protested against by the NBA as well as Resident Doctors where the latter alleged police complicity, while the former threatened to down tools if stringent measures were not taken to curb the menace.
Комментарии