Ondo Amotekun Arrests 39 Suspected Terrorists Fleeing Sokoto After US Airsrike
The Ondo State security outfit, Amotekun Corps, has arrested 39 suspected terrorists who reportedly fled Sokoto State following Christmas Day airstrikes by the United States military in Nigeria’s North-West.
The suspects were among 100 alleged criminals apprehended across Ondo State and paraded on Tuesday by the State Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye.
Adeleye said the 39 suspects claimed they relocated to forest areas within Ondo State due to increased military pressure in the northern region.
“A couple of days ago, 39 suspects were arrested, all together, claiming that as a result of the heat turned on them in the northern part of the country, they are relocating into the forest.
“We are still profiling them, and after the profiling, we may have to send them back, but those found with incriminating equipment and materials will surely be prosecuted,” he said.
He warned that the state government does not permit unchecked movement or settlement in forest reserves.
“The government has made its position known. For you to stay in our forest areas, you must obtain permits. So, the sudden influx of this element poses a lot of questions that we are still working on. I have them equally arraigned,” Adeleye said.
The Amotekun chief also highlighted improved collaboration among border patrol teams from Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun states, which has led to more arrests.
“The synergy between the border patrols of Ekiti/Ondo, Osun/Ondo, Ogun/Ondo have yielded tremendous results such that we have some suspects not paraded today because we’ve not completed investigations, that we had to go to Ogun State to bring them back,” he said.
Out of the 100 suspects arrested, 61 were paraded. Adeleye gave a breakdown of the offences: 50 were arrested for breach of law and order, two for anti-open grazing violations, six for kidnapping-related cases, and three for rape and gender-based abuse.
The ages of the suspects range between 18 and 45 years.
Regarding the rape cases, Adeleye said three suspects—19-year-old Daniel Ojo, 33-year-old Usman, and 41-year-old Bejide—were arrested in the Isinkan area of Akure, the state capital.
Adeleye commended Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for creating an enabling environment for Amotekun’s operations and also praised other security agencies for their cooperation.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
