Mapping Ondo Attacks In Six Months

Insecurity in Nigeria has become a grave concern to citizens living in the country. Attacks by gunmen, kidnappers, militants and separatist groups have become too sudden, expanding from the northern region of the country, where it had much dominance,  into other states in the southern region. 

The consistent security attacks have dampened the country’s economic expansion into some states, reduced infrastructural developments as well as impacted the livelihood of people living in these affected areas. Too many victims, they are gradually becoming refugees in other states after these attacks. Like other affected regions, Ondo state, located in the southwest geopolitical region of the country, was not spared from these attacks.

Recently, over 50 worshippers were reported dead at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo local government. Those killed include mothers, fathers, children, pregnant women and other young adults who had gathered in the church on Sunday for fellowship. 

However, while these attacks draw a lot of attention to the public and media space, this is not the first time residents in Ondo have suffered attacks by unknown gunmen. At the beginning of the year, the Special Assistant to the governor, Adetunji Adeleye, said  that some of these criminals hid in the trees. He said this while commenting on the killing of three persons in the Molege community. 

Killings in six months

On Jan. 7, suspected Fulani herdsmen were reported to have attacked and killed three persons, after an invasion into Molege Village in Ose Council Area of Ondo State. Several houses were reportedly razed along Elerinla near Arimogija by the rampaging herders.

Gunmen reportedly attacked the Okeluse community in Ose council area of Ondo state, killing two persons, on Jan. 24 bearly weeks after the attack in Molega village.

Eyewitness alleged that the police killed a community chief and two others at a police checkpoint in the Kajola area along Ijebu Ode/Ore Expressway . The development came with a protest at the police unit with angry youth almost setting ablaze the police station. 

Suspected bandits were reported to have killed a man in Ajowa Akoko, in the Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State while trying to escape from the siege laid by the attackers. 

In a recent attack, over 50 worshippers were killed on a sunday in Owo town, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The National Security Council however blamed the Islamic State West Africa Province for the attack.

Bearly days after this attack, no fewer than six persons were shot dead at Sabo Area of Ondo town by suspected gunmen.

While efforts are in place to nab the perpetrator of these attacks by security agencies, residents at affected communities are still devastated by the killings.