Residents of Isua Akoko are raising alarm over security gaps following the killing of a youth leader, an incident that has shaken the community and intensified calls for stronger protection in Akoko South East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The victim, Ojo Abbey, popularly known as Obesere, was abducted by gunmen on February 22, 2026, while returning from Ibilo to Isua Akoko, according to accounts from residents and police authorities.

Community members say the abduction sparked immediate fear and anger, prompting youths and local hunters to organise search parties across nearby bushes and forest paths in a desperate bid to rescue him after the incident was reported to the police.

Their fears were confirmed on Saturday when the decomposing body of the youth leader was discovered in a forest in Igara, deepening grief in Isua and reinforcing concerns about criminal movements across the Ondo–Edo boundary.

The Ondo State Police Command says a suspect has been arrested and is currently in custody, assisting investigators, while patrol teams were initially deployed after the report was made at the Isua Division and the victim’s vehicle recovered.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has ordered intensified surveillance and strategic deployments across affected communities and along border routes to prevent further attacks.

Meanwhile, the Isua Youth Forum has described the killing as a stark reminder of rising insecurity in the area, urging authorities to sustain security presence and restore confidence among residents who say they now live with heightened fear and uncertainty.