Abia State launches emergency services to reduce maternal and newborn deaths

Ondo residents protest incessant abductions and killings in Akure North communities

Youths and residents from Imafon, Igushin, and Ilado communities in Ondo State's Akure North Local Government Area protested on Saturday against ongoing abductions and killings. The demonstrators, carrying branches, barricaded ShopRite Junction near the Governor's Office, stating that the attacks have caused continuous mourning. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that on Thursday, gunmen killed a poultry farmer and her daughter in Igushin, while two others were rescued by police. On Friday, gunmen attacked Ilado, hacking and shooting a youth who was attempting to escape abduction. A youth leader, identified as Kunle, told reporters that gunmen operate unchecked, particularly in Akure and its surroundings. He highlighted the recent killings of a mother and daughter, and the brutal macheting of another individual. Kunle criticized the government, stating that residents have not seen the impact of monthly security votes and are tired of burying their people weekly while gunmen move freely. He questioned the allocation of security funds and the lack of security presence, patrols, or results, vowing that residents would continue protesting until the government takes concrete action to protect lives and property.