The Ondo State Security Network Agency, 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 identified by security agencies as a long-standing hotspot for kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
In addition to the 39 suspects, Amotekun operatives arrested 61 other individuals during the festive period for alleged offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery and car snatching to violations of the state’s anti-open grazing law.
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 state’s 18 local government areas.
Adeleye said the 39 suspects arrested at Elegbeka are currently undergoing profiling to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities. He noted that those found without incriminating evidence may be repatriated to Sokoto State, while others will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“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,” he 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,” Adeleye added.
The commander warned that entry into forest reserves in Ondo State requires official government authorisation, stressing that unauthorised movement into such areas would not be tolerated.
According to him, about 50 of the suspects paraded 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 violence 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 Nigeria Police Force, 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 Odigbo area, while three others were apprehended in the Isua Akoko axis over similar offences.
The Amotekun Corps reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening security across Ondo State and preventing the infiltration of criminal elements.