The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, has arrested 39 suspects who allegedly fled Sokoto State and relocated to forest reserves in 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 offences across the state.
Adeleye said the 39 suspects were apprehended at the Elegbeka axis of Ose Local Government Area, an area he described as a long-standing security flashpoint.
“A couple of days ago, the 39 suspects were apprehended together at the Elegbeka axis in Ose Local Government Area, a notorious area where the Olufon of Ifon was murdered some years ago,” he said.
According to him, the suspects claimed they moved into the Ondo forests after a recent United States–backed military strike against ISIS terrorists in northern Nigeria.
“They claimed they relocated into the forests due to the strike on them in the northern part of the country,” Adeleye stated.
The Amotekun commander said the suspects were not trekking when they were arrested but were hiding deep inside the forest, with their vehicles parked far from their hideouts.
“They were hibernating inside the forest. Their vehicles were parked far away, but we trapped them and brought them together,” he said.
Adeleye added that the sudden presence of the suspects raised serious security concerns, noting that government regulations require anyone staying in forest areas to obtain proper permits.
“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,” he said.
He explained that Amotekun had earlier set up a permanent control post in the area to curb crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery.
“Elegbeka is a long-standing black spot for criminal activities, and that is why Amotekun established a permanent control post inside the forest,” Adeleye added.
The commander said the suspects were still being profiled and that those found with incriminating materials would be prosecuted.
“We are still profiling them, but those found with incriminating materials will surely be prosecuted,” he said.
Adeleye also revealed that the arrests were part of the agency’s ember-month security operations across Ondo State.
“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,” he said.
He gave a breakdown of the arrests, saying 50 suspects were arrested for breach of law and order, two for anti-open grazing violations, six for kidnapping-related offences, and three for rape and gender-based violence.
The Amotekun Corps said it would continue its operations to ensure the safety of residents across the state.
