The Ondo command of the south-west security network, also known as Amotekun, says it has arrested 39 suspected terrorists who allegedly fled Sokoto and relocated to forest reserves in the state.
Adetunji Adeleye, the commander of Amotekun in Ondo, spoke on Tuesday while parading 61 suspects in Akure, the state capital.
The arrests came in the wake of the United States–backed military strikes against ISIS terrorists in Sokoto state.
Last week, US President Donald Trump announced “powerful and deadly” strikes against the terrorists in the north-west region.
Adeleye said the 39 suspects were arrested around the Elegbeka axis of Ose LGA, a location long identified as a security hotspot.
He described Elegbeka as a “persistent hub” for criminal activity and said Amotekun had established a permanent control post in the forest to check kidnapping and armed robbery.
“A couple of days ago, 39 suspects were arrested together, claiming that as a result of the heat turned on them in the northern part of the country, they relocated into the forest,” Adeleye said.
“For anyone to stay in our forest areas, the government has made it clear that such a person must obtain permits. The sudden influx of these elements raises serious questions.
“We trapped them and brought them together. Profiling is almost completed. We are still profiling them. Those found with incriminating materials will surely be prosecuted.”
The Amotekun commander said the arrests were part of the agency’s ember-month security operations carried out across the 18 LGAs of the state.
He said the offences included breach of law and order, anti-open grazing violations, kidnapping-related crimes, and rape and gender-based violence.
“As we round up the ember-month patrol, which ends tomorrow, we have arrested about 100 suspects, out of which 61 are on parade today,” Adeleye said.
“Operation Le Won Jade Phase Two will commence from January 1, while our 24/7 patrol continues, just as the Amotekun Rangers domiciled in the forests will remain active.
“Two suspects — Mustafa (34) and Philip (45) — were arrested for kidnapping around the Ofosu, Odigbo axis, while three others, Idris (18), Ibrahim Abdullahi (20), and Lawal Idris (23), were apprehended in Isua Akoko.
“On rape and assault on Amotekun officers, Daniel Ojo (19), Usman (33), and Bejide (41) were arrested in the Isinkan area of Akure.
“In addition, Amotekun operatives arrested Ola Tunbosun (30), alongside Ibrahim and Shahidu, for armed robbery across Akure North, Oba Akoko, and Oba-Ile.”
Adeleye said the agency also dismantled a robbery gang operating in Akure and other parts of the state.
He said the suspects used unpainted taxis without visible registration numbers to lure passengers before robbing them at gunpoint.
“The robbery took place in the heart of Akure. They stole a car on display and dispossessed residents of their valuables,” he said.
“We were able to arrest three suspects and the taxi. I appeal to members of the public to be wary of taxis without readable registration numbers.”
Adeleye said collaboration among Amotekun corps across the south-west had improved border surveillance following the military strikes in the north.
“The synergy between the border patrols of Ondo/Ekiti, Ondo/Osun and Ondo/Ogun has been yielding tremendous results,” he said.
“In fact, some suspects not paraded today were arrested in Ogun state and brought back to Ondo.”
He thanked Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo, for supporting the agency and commended other security agencies and residents for their cooperation.
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