Killing, kidnapping, and robbery have become a daily routine of the hoodlums suspected of kidnappers along Owo, Ifon / Benin expressway in Ondo State. The ancient road has become a den of evil to travelers. Interestingly, the road is one of the major gateways to many states.
The hoodlums have continued to use the importance of the road to perpetrate atrocities which include killing, kidnapping, and robbery of those traveling along the major highway.
A few years ago, one of the first-class monarchs in Ondo State, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Isreal Adewusi, in the Ose Local Government Area of the state, was killed while coming from the monthly meeting of the State Council of Obas in Akure and was returning to his domain.
It was gathered that the monarch was hit by a hail of bullets, when the gunmen, who hid inside the bush along the highway, attacked his vehicle in the Elegbeka area, shooting severally in an attempt to stop the driver from fleeing.
Also, on the same highway, 25 choir members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Igan, Akure, Ondo State capital, were kidnapped.
I also gathered that the victims were kidnapped on their way to Ifon in the Ose local government area for a burial ceremony of a parent of one of them. They were however set free a week after their abduction after their families paid the sum of N50 million ransom.
Recently, apart from several atrocities penetrated by the hoodlums along the same axis, two commuters were killed, while five others including corps members were kidnapped along the Ifon-Owo Highway.
I gathered that the driver of the commercial vehicle and a female passenger were shot dead at the scene of the incident.
Five other passengers, including a corps member, were taken away by the gunmen. However, two of the victims managed to escape, with varying degrees of wounds.
One of the locals revealed that the fully loaded commercial vehicle was coming from Anambra State heading for Owo and Akure in Ondo State when the gunmen struck.
One of the relatives of the corps members, Oluwadara Olamide, said they had to pay five million naira for their family members to be released by the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, the youth in the state, operating under the Ondo State Youth Network (OSYN), have called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to make the security of lives and property a top priority.
