Students from tertiary institutions in Ondo State took to the streets of Akure on Thursday, protesting the alarming rise in abductions and crime across the state.
The protest, led by Oluwarotimi Joshua, the South-West Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), disrupted major roads, causing significant traffic delays for several hours.
Chanting solidarity songs and holding placards with various inscriptions, the demonstrators voiced their frustration with the state government’s handling of security concerns.
They accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of neglecting their safety and failing to address the escalating violence, including abductions, robberies, and violent attacks, which have become more frequent in recent years.
The students also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s approach to student welfare, highlighting poor conditions in tertiary institutions and a lack of student-friendly policies.
Of particular concern was the absence of adequate support for students undergoing industrial work experience, who are increasingly vulnerable to criminal activities.
Local sources reported that Wilfred Afolabi, the state’s Commissioner of Police, attempted to disperse the protesters but faced resistance. The students refused to back down, demanding urgent intervention from the government to restore safety and address their grievances.
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The protest follows a series of unsettling security incidents in Ondo.
In March 2025, nine surveyors and an industrial training student were abducted in the Owode/Ilu-Abo area of Akure North LGA, prompting widespread public outcry. In the same month, local women also rallied for improved security measures after the rise in kidnappings and attacks.
Earlier protests have also highlighted similar issues. On March 19, locals barricaded the entrance to the governor’s office in response to the brutal killing of five farmers.
Additionally, in February 2024, students at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) staged a protest over frequent robberies in the North Gate area of the campus.
