A wave of fear gripped Ondo State as suspected kidnappers brutally killed a prominent Fulani herdsman, Aliu Yunusa, near the Ilu-Abo junction in Akure South Local Government Area. The tragic incident occurred while Yunusa was heading to his ranch, marking another grim chapter in the state’s ongoing battle against insecurity.
A Brave Fight Against Kidnappers
The Commander of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the shocking development, describing Yunusa’s last moments as both heroic and tragic. According to Adeleye, Yunusa had earlier engaged the kidnappers in a daring rescue mission to free his abducted wife.
“He fought them off and successfully retrieved his wife,” Adeleye said. However, the kidnappers regrouped and struck again, overpowering Yunusa in a vicious attack. “They killed him while attempting to steal his cows,” the Amotekun commander added.
A Scene of Horror
The aftermath of the attack painted a gruesome picture. Fellow herdsmen who arrived at the scene placed a distress call to Amotekun’s Ogbese outpost, reporting Yunusa’s lifeless body.
“When our officers arrived, they found his body riddled with machete wounds,” Adeleye disclosed. “The attackers also set his motorcycle ablaze before fleeing into the forest.”
Security Agencies on High Alert
Amotekun operatives have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, combing the dense forest near the crime scene. Adeleye assured the public that the corps is committed to bringing the assailants to justice, emphasizing the need for community collaboration in tackling insecurity.
“We are determined to apprehend these criminals and ensure they face the full weight of the law,” he said.
A State Under Siege
This latest incident adds to the mounting insecurity plaguing Ondo State. In recent months, the region has witnessed a string of kidnappings and violent crimes, leaving residents in a state of perpetual fear.
Adeleye lamented the growing audacity of criminals, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly.
Recurring Kidnapping Tragedies
Aliu Yunusa’s tragic death is a stark reminder of the escalating violence linked to kidnappings in Nigeria. According to recent reports, Nigerians paid an estimated N2.23 trillion in ransom to kidnappers over the past year alone.
Ondo State has not been spared from this scourge. In one high-profile case, kidnappers demanded a N75 million ransom for the release of an Anglican cleric and his family. While security agencies have made some notable arrests, the sheer scale of the problem underscores the challenges in curbing the menace.
A Call for Action
As the Ondo State government grapples with these security challenges, many residents are calling for more robust measures to protect lives and property. Community policing initiatives like the Amotekun Corps have made significant strides, but the increasing sophistication of criminal groups highlights the need for better resources and intelligence-sharing.
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to these criminals,” said a local resident, who pleaded for anonymity. “The government must act decisively to restore peace to our communities.”
