Amotekun arrests 39 suspects hiding in Ondo forests after fleeing Sokoto
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, has arrested 39 suspects who allegedly fled from Sokoto State and took refuge in forest reserves across Ondo State.
The State Commander of Amotekun, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Tuesday in Akure while parading the suspects alongside 22 others arrested for various criminal activities within the state.
According to Adeleye, the 39 suspects were apprehended at the Elegbeka axis of Ose Local Government Area, a known security flashpoint, after allegedly relocating to Ondo following a recent United States–backed military strike against ISIS elements in northern Nigeria.
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He explained that the suspects claimed they moved into the forests to escape the military operation in the North. Elegbeka, he noted, has a long history of criminal activity, which prompted Amotekun to establish a permanent control post within the forest to curb kidnapping and armed robbery, especially after the killing of the Olufon of Ifon some years ago.
The commander said the suspects were not arrested while trekking but were discovered hiding deep inside the forest, with their vehicles parked far from their hideouts.
“We trapped them and brought them together. They are currently being profiled, and anyone found with incriminating items will be prosecuted accordingly,” Adeleye said.
He added that the arrests were part of Amotekun’s ember-month security operations involving multiple deployments across Ondo State. As the operation nears completion, about 100 suspects have been arrested so far, with 61 paraded on Tuesday.
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A breakdown of the arrests showed that 50 suspects were picked up for breach of law and order, two for violating anti-open grazing laws, six for kidnapping-related offences, and three for rape and other gender-based violence offences.
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