By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has vowed a decisive crackdown on kidnappers, their sponsors, and collaborators amid a surge in abductions and violent attacks across parts of the state.
The governor’s statement came on Tuesday during a security stakeholders meeting with leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Ondo State—a gathering convened to address rising insecurity and the growing trend of kidnappings targeting communities, residents, and travellers.
Aiyedatiwa expressed deep concern that some syndicates operate with outside support and local information networks, warning that “if investigations trace any criminal activity to anyone, whether they have legitimate business or not, they will be treated like criminals. No godfather, sponsor, or collaborator will be spared.”
The governor’s pledge for a crackdown follows mounting public frustration, as residents recently blocked the Akure-Owo expressway with the remains of a kidnap victim to protest insecurity, underscoring how the violence has affected daily life, farming, and travel in the region.
To bolster security, Aiyedatiwa has directed security agencies, including the police and Amotekun, to intensify patrols and surveillance and has supported the arrest of suspects linked to kidnapping gangs.
His vow reflects both a political imperative and public demand for stronger action against criminal networks that have instilled fear, disrupted livelihoods, and challenged stability in Ondo communities.
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