The Ondo State Security Network Agency, widely known as the Amotekun Corps, has confirmed the arrest of thirty nine suspects who allegedly relocated from Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria to forest reserves within Ondo State, located in southwestern Nigeria.
The State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, made this disclosure on Tuesday, 30 December 2025, in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, while parading the suspects alongside twenty two other individuals apprehended for different criminal offences across the state.
According to Adeleye, the thirty nine suspects were arrested after intelligence reports indicated that they fled their original locations following a recent United States backed military strike targeting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria terrorists operating in parts of northern Nigeria. Okay News reports that the arrests form part of intensified security surveillance aimed at preventing criminal groups from exploiting forested areas as hideouts.
“A couple of days ago, the 39 suspects were apprehended together at the Elegbeka axis in Ose Local Government Area, a notorious security flashpoint where the Olufon of Ifon was murdered some years ago,” Adeleye said.
He further explained, “They claimed they relocated into the forests due to the strike on them in the northern part of the country.”
Providing further context, the Amotekun commander described Elegbeka as a long established hotspot for criminal activities, adding that the security agency had earlier set up a permanent control post in the forest to tackle rising cases of kidnapping and armed robbery.
“Elegbeka is a long standing black spot for criminal activities, and it is the reason Amotekun established a permanent control post inside the forest to curb kidnapping and armed robbery,” he stated.
Adeleye also emphasized that the Ondo State Government had introduced regulations requiring anyone residing or operating within forest areas to obtain official permits, warning that the sudden movement of unidentified persons into the forests raised serious security concerns.
“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.
The commander revealed that the suspects were not arrested while traveling but were instead discovered hiding deep within the forest, with their vehicles strategically parked far from their hideouts to avoid detection.
“We trapped them and brought them together. We are still profiling them, but those found with incriminating materials will surely be prosecuted,” Adeleye added.
He noted that the arrests were carried out as part of the agency’s ember month security operations, which involved deploying officers across four major operational zones throughout 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.
A breakdown of the offences showed that fifty suspects were arrested for breaches of law and order, two suspects for violations of anti open grazing laws, six suspects for kidnapping related offences, and three suspects for rape and gender based violence.
The Amotekun Corps reiterated its commitment to maintaining security across the state, particularly in forested border communities vulnerable to criminal infiltration.
