Amotekun arrests four suspected terrorists in Ondo
Four Suspected Terrorists Arrested in Ondo State
Akure, Ondo State — Four individuals suspected of terrorism related to a series of violent crimes over the past eight months have been arrested by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency.
State Commander Adetunji Adeleye announced the arrests during a press briefing. He characterized the operation as intelligence-led and conducted in collaboration with other security agencies.
Adeleye stated that the suspects are believed to be part of a gang involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, and destruction of property across various locations in the state. The group’s leader was apprehended during a coordinated operation, which reportedly included directives from outside the state.
In addition to the arrests, Adeleye mentioned that the gang’s logistics and supply chain had been disrupted, resulting in the capture of additional members.
Given the sensitive nature of the case, the suspects have been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further interrogation and potential prosecution. Adeleye confirmed that the arrested individuals admitted involvement in multiple criminal activities linked to a rise in insecurity in Ondo State.
“They confessed to having commenced operations that led to the instability our state has witnessed in the past eight months,” Adeleye said, while withholding further operational details due to ongoing DSS investigations.
The commander emphasized that these arrests are part of broader efforts to restore peace and dismantle criminal hideouts in the state’s forest areas. He noted that Ondo State’s extensive forest belts, spanning six local government areas and bordering three states, present significant security challenges.
Joint security operations involving the police, military, DSS, Amotekun, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have intensified efforts to eliminate criminal elements from these forested regions.
Adeleye also highlighted a shift in strategy from mere apprehension to prosecution. In the past month, case files for about 142 suspects have been completed and submitted to appropriate courts. Charges faced by these suspects include kidnapping, anti-grazing offenses, communal clashes between farmers and herders, and cult-related crimes.
Additionally, 64 more suspects are currently being profiled, with decisions regarding their prosecution or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms forthcoming based on investigative outcomes.
