Residents of Owode Housing Estate, Apata, in Ibadan, Oyo State, have called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene in the estate’s escalating cases of killings and armed robbery. The plea came during a protest held within the estate on Friday.

Speaking to journalists, residents said neighbours have been murdered and several families attacked due to the high level of insecurity in the area. Bamidele Lawal, spokesman for the protesters, highlighted that many plots of land and buildings in the estate have been abandoned, becoming hideouts for criminals.

Lawal explained, “Most of the lands here are lying fallow without any development. This has led to crimes like rape, killings, and even the exhuming of corpses. Okada riders have been killed. People are no longer safe. We are calling on Governor Makinde and the Oyo State Housing Corporation to intervene before this escalates further.”

He further raised concerns about land mismanagement, noting that lands allocated to ghost allotees by the housing corporation have contributed to the security challenges.

The President of Apata Youths, Olaolu Oyeniran, also appealed to the governor, saying, “We have lost many souls in this estate over the years. I am calling on the governor to find something about this.”

The residents urged the state government to take urgent action to restore safety and confidence in the community.