The Ondo State Government has established a security joint task force to address growing security challenges across the state.
The decision follows a series of violent attacks by suspected bandits, which have left several people dead and others kidnapped.
In one of the incidents, gunmen attacked the Aba Oyinbo community in Akure North Local Government Area, killing five farmers. The attack triggered a protest by farmers in Akure, the state capital.
Just days earlier, suspected herdsmen had launched attacks on four other communities—Ademekun, Aba Sunday, Aba Pastor, and Aba Alajido—also in Akure North, killing 14 farmers.
Speaking on the development, the state Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adeleye, said the task force set up by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa includes all security agencies in the state.
“We want to reassure residents that they can continue their farming activities as the government has established a joint task force to stabilise the remote areas of Akure North, where these criminal activities occur. The government is also working to open up roads in the area to ensure a swift response in case of emergencies,” he said.
Adeleye added that a joint patrol team, comprising the army, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Amotekun personnel, had restored normalcy to Ago Oyinbo, Ago Dada, Ago Ademekun, and surrounding communities.
“To prevent a resurgence of these attacks, the government has directed that Amotekun security posts be established as control points in these remote areas,” he stated.
The Amotekun commander also disclosed that the corps had arrested 32 suspected kidnappers hiding in state forests.
According to him, the arrests were made across four local government areas—Akure South, Akure North, Ose, and Akoko North-East—through coordinated efforts by Amotekun rangers and other security agencies.
“In recent times, we have witnessed a rise in criminal activities, including kidnapping, in Ondo State. The security network mobilised additional support from neighbouring local governments and entered the forest reserves to track down criminals. In the past week alone, we have arrested 32 suspected kidnappers, all of whom are undergoing interrogation,” he said.
“In total, we are parading 58 suspects today. These individuals were arrested in different forest reserves and areas notorious for criminal activities.”
Adeleye assured that security forces would continue patrolling vulnerable areas, particularly in Akure North, to prevent further attacks.
