Youths in the Ogbese community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State blocked the Akure-Owo Expressway to protest the killing of a local farmer and to demand a stronger security response from authorities.

The deceased, identified as Ben Daniels, was reportedly travelling by motorcycle with his companion, James Unekwu, to a farm camp when they were attacked by unidentified gunmen. Police accounts indicate that Unekwu escaped, while Daniels was killed and his body left by the roadside. The incident has generated significant concern within the largely agrarian community.

Residents link this killing to a broader pattern of insecurity in the area. Days earlier, worshippers from a Celestial Church of Christ in the nearby Uso community were abducted and later released, reportedly after ransom payments. These events have reinforced perceptions that rural settlements along the Akure-Owo corridor face elevated risks of violent crime.

During the protest, participants, predominantly youths, erected barricades on the expressway and displayed placards calling for justice for Daniels. They accused security agencies of inadequate protection for farmers and commuters and requested increased security presence in farmlands and surrounding forested areas where previous attacks have been reported.

The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the incident and stated that officers were deployed to the scene. According to the police, Daniels’s body was recovered and taken to a mortuary for autopsy, while Unekwu was placed in protective custody. An investigation is underway to determine possible motives and identify suspects.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa publicly condemned the recent violent incidents in parts of the state. Through a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Idowu Ajanaku, the governor suggested that some local collaborators may be supporting criminal groups and indicated that the government intends to act against such networks.

The statement outlined ongoing security measures, including improved logistics support for security agencies, the establishment of a Crime Control Centre for the Amotekun Corps, and the recruitment of additional operatives to strengthen intelligence gathering and rapid response capabilities.

The governor called on traditional rulers and community leaders to increase vigilance and urged residents to report suspicious activities promptly, reiterating that the protection of lives and property remains a central policy objective of the state government.