Residents of Oba-Ile and surrounding areas in Akure North Local Government Area are living in fear following a surge in kidnappings.

Last week, gunmen killed a health worker, Akinola Oyabiyi, and abducted his child near Akure Airport in Eleyowo.

The previous week, two former students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, were kidnapped at Oke Oge while returning from their farm, with their captors demanding a ?15 million ransom.

Reports indicate that some residents have been forced to pay ransoms after receiving threats of abduction.

Just last month, five farmers were brutally murdered at Ajegunle Powerline in Akure North, further deepening the community?s fears.

Ondo Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, said the police need high tech equipment, vehicles to tackle security challenges in the state.

The Ondo CP said he has given directives to all Divisional Police Officers to begin robust and energetic patrols across the state.

He said any Division without vehicles would do the patrol on motorcycles.

?We need mobility and that implies we are in need of vehicles. Kidnappings have gone sophisticated. We need equipment lile tracking. Devices, drones to tackle kidnappings.?

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Security, Chief Gbenga Atiba, said the state government was doing much to ensure safety of lives and property. (The Nation)