The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, has arrested 39 suspected bandits allegedly fleeing northern Nigeria following recent airstrikes on terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State. The suspects were apprehended at the Elegbeka forest axis in Ose Local Government Area, a location long identified as a hotspot for criminal activities, including kidnapping and armed robbery. In addition to the 39 suspects, the corps also arrested 61 other individuals during the festive period for alleged offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery and car snatching to violations of anti-open grazing laws. The State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 in Akure while parading over 100 suspects arrested across the 18 local government areas of the state. Adeleye said the 39 suspects arrested at Elegbeka were currently undergoing profiling to determine their culpability, noting that those found without incriminating evidence might be repatriated to Sokoto State, while others would be prosecuted. You will recall that the Elegbeka axis has been a black spot for criminal activities. Because of this, the Amotekun Corps established a control post within the forest, Adeleye said. A few days ago, we arrested 39 individuals who claimed they were relocating to the forest due to pressure on them in the northern part of the country. This sudden influx raises serious security concerns. He stressed that entry into forest reserves in the state requires official government permits, warning that unauthorised movement into such areas would not be tolerated. According to the commander, of the suspects paraded, about 50 were arrested for breaches of law and order, two for violations of the anti-open grazing law, six for kidnapping-related offences, and three for gender-based abuse and rape. Adeleye described the arrests as part of a coordinated effort to rid Ondo State of criminal elements, commending Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for providing an enabling environment for security agencies to operate effectively. He also acknowledged the support of other security agencies, including the police, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, vigilante groups, and members of the public. Highlighting specific cases, Adeleye said two suspects, aged 34 and 45, were arrested for kidnapping near Ofosu in the Odigbo area, while three others were apprehended in the Isua Akoko axis in connection with similar crimes. He added that other suspects were arrested for rape, assault on Amotekun officers, and armed robbery in various parts of the state. The Amotekun Corps reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening security across Ondo State and preventing the infiltration of criminal elements.
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