Ondo State is facing a growing wave of violent crime. In recent weeks, attacks have escalated from rural highways to urban centres, putting both ordinary residents and the elite on edge.
A few days ago, Oba Kehinde Falodun, the monarch of Agamo community, was killed during a failed kidnapping attempt at his residence. In the same period, gunmen abducted six worshippers from a Celestial Church of Christ parish in Uso, Owo LGA, and a couple in Ilu Abo were kidnapped from their home, only to be released after a reported N5 million ransom.
The change in pattern has unsettled the state’s political and business elite. Wealth and status no longer guarantee safety. High-profile attacks raise fears for personal security and threaten key investments, including agribusinesses and the Ondo Deep Seaport project. There is concern that the rising insecurity could destabilise both the economy and the political environment.
