Youths in Ayede Ogbese, Akure North Local Council Area of Ondo State, on Friday barricaded the busy Benin–Akure–Ilesa road while protesting the surge in kidnappings in the state.

The youths, infuriated over the killing of a 34-year-old man and the abduction of a businesswoman in Ogbese by gunmen on Thursday, lamented that the government is shirking its responsibility to protect lives and property.

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A middle-aged man, Okudili Okoro, was on Thursday shot dead by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, who stormed the community to abduct a popular provision seller, Mrs Orogun.

With the protest creating a heavy traffic gridlock on the busy highway, travellers as well as residents within the axis were stranded for several hours.

According to a resident of the community, who gave her name as Justine, the incessant kidnappings can be attributed to the neglect of the area by the governor, particularly the bad state of the road, which has been aiding criminal activities.

Justine, who also alleged that security agencies are not living up to their responsibilities in providing security, stated that the checkpoints mounted in the area have not been effective.

“Even those posted here to check the security situation are not doing enough. Now, the youths are the ones protecting themselves. Just yesterday, one of us was killed here by the kidnappers, and another woman who had a shop here was abducted and whisked away.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who addressed the protesting youths, assured that the command will apprehend the suspects and rescue the victim.