By Ogunade Adebola Oluwakayode (Kdivine)
A tragic tale is unfolding along the Oba-Owo Expressway, a road once held firm by the fearless presence of Nigerian Army officers, now surrendered to silence, fear, and uncertainty.
Just days ago, I raised the alarm, heart heavy, voice trembling, over the removal of a crucial military checkpoint that once served as a deterrent to criminals on this vital corridor linking the volatile Ise Ekiti axis to the heartbeat of Akoko in Ondo State.
Today, as I journeyed that same route, my fears were not just confirmed, they were magnified. What stood as a symbol of safety has now become a shadow of sorrow.The Fulani herdsmen have returned, emboldened. And while we must never generalize, not all Fulani are kidnappers, and not all herdsmen are villains, we cannot deny the growing menace that has crept back into our communities like a thief in the night.
“Aisi ni ile ologbo, ile di ile ekute”, in the absence of the cat, the house becomes the rat’s playground. A Yoruba proverb that now echoes like a warning siren across the state.
Security statistics in Ondo State paint a grim picture, Between January 2024 and March 2025, over 57 reported abductions, many of them involving commuters and farmers. Local vigilante groups report the increased cattle intrusion and farmland destruction in different communities within the state.
Army checkpoints may mean different things to different places, but in Ondo State, they are not just roadblocks; they are lifelines. Their presence offers more than just military might, it provides psychological assurance. A sense that someone is watching. That someone cares. That danger is not allowed to thrive.
To the brave soldiers who once stood guard under the blistering sun and torrential rain, we thank you. Your absence is felt, not just in statistics but in the hearts of the people you protected.
If, for reasons known or unknown, the army cannot return to this critical location, then let us not fold our arms. Amotekun must rise. The Southwest must protect its own. We must never leave our roads to chance or our lives to fate.
Ondo must not fall, the cat must return, or we unleash a new cat that roars louder and strikes harder.
Because in the end, it’s not just about checkpoints, it’s about checkmating the growing terror before it becomes the new normal. We must be lucky to be lucky, but we cannot afford to rely on luck alone. Ondo State must be LUCKY.
