Amotekun arrests 39 suspects hiding in Ondo forest after fleeing Sokoto
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, has arrested 39 suspects who allegedly fled Sokoto State and took refuge in forest reserves within Ondo.
The State Commander of Amotekun, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Tuesday in Akure while parading the suspects alongside 22 others arrested for various crimes across the state.
According to Adeleye, the 39 suspects were apprehended at the Elegbeka axis of Ose Local Government Area, a known security flashpoint. He said the suspects claimed they relocated to Ondo forests following recent United States–backed military operations targeting ISIS elements in northern Nigeria.
“Elegbeka has a long history of criminal activities, which informed our decision to establish a permanent control post in the forest to curb kidnapping and armed robbery,” Adeleye said, noting that government regulations require anyone residing in forest areas to obtain proper permits.
He explained that the suspects were not intercepted while travelling but were discovered hibernating deep inside the forest, with their vehicles parked far from their hideouts.
“We surrounded and arrested them together. Profiling is ongoing, and anyone found with incriminating items will be prosecuted,” he added.
The commander said the arrests were part of Amotekun’s ember-month security operations across four major operational zones in the state. He revealed that about 100 suspects were arrested during the exercise, with 61 currently on parade.
A breakdown of the arrests showed that 50 suspects were picked up for breach of law and order, two for anti-open grazing violations, six for kidnapping-related offences, and three for rape and other gender-based violence cases.
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