Residents of Akure, Ondo State, staged a protest on Tuesday following the kidnapping of nine surveyors in the Owode Ilu-Abo area of Akure South Local Government.
The victims, all from Akure, were reportedly taken by armed men while carrying out their duties last week.
Family members and concerned community members led the demonstration, obstructing traffic along Oba Adesida Road while holding placards and urging security agencies to take swift action.
Comfort Afolabi, whose brother is among those abducted, disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million as ransom but later increased it to N100 million.
“We have pleaded with them, but they insist on full payment before releasing our loved ones. We are desperate and need the government’s intervention,” she lamented.
This incident adds to the rising cases of kidnapping in the state. Recently, a farmer and his manager were abducted while returning from their farm in Oba Ile.
Responding to the development, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, admitted that security challenges persist, adding that inadequate resources have hindered police operations.
“Kidnapping remains a serious concern, and we are making every effort to curb it. However, improved logistics and resources are essential to enhance our operations,” he explained.