Amotekun Arrests 39 Suspected Terrorists in Ondo Following Sokoto Attacks by US military

The Ondo State security outfit, Amotekun Corps, has apprehended 39 suspected terrorists who reportedly fled Sokoto State after Christmas Day airstrikes allegedly conducted by the United States military in Nigeria’s North-West. The arrests were part of a larger operation that saw 100 suspects taken into custody across Ondo State and paraded on Tuesday by the State Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye.

Adeleye explained that the 39 suspects claimed they relocated to forest areas within Ondo State to escape increasing military pressure in the northern part of the country. “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,” he said.

The suspects are currently undergoing profiling, with those found possessing incriminating materials set to face prosecution, while others may be returned after investigations. “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,” Adeleye stated.

The Amotekun commander emphasized that the Ondo State government does not permit unregulated settlement in forest reserves, warning that individuals must obtain official approval before occupying such areas. “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,” he added.

Adeleye also highlighted the success of enhanced collaboration among border patrol units from Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun states, noting that some suspects were apprehended outside Ondo and brought back for investigation. “The synergy between the border patrols of Ekiti/Ondo, Osun/Ondo, Ogun/Ondo has 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.

Providing a breakdown of the arrests, Adeleye revealed that out of the 100 suspects, 61 were paraded. Fifty were detained for breaches of law and order, two for violations of anti-open grazing laws, 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 allegations, the commander identified the suspects as 19-year-old Daniel Ojo, 33-year-old Usman, and 41-year-old Bejide, all arrested in the Isinkan area of Akure, the state capital.

Adeleye commended Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for creating an enabling environment for Amotekun operations and praised the cooperation of other security agencies in the state.