'Ondo Is Not a Safe Haven': Amotekun Parades 95 Suspects, Including 12 Kidnappers, After Weeks of Coordinated Security Sweep

Joint operation across 18 local government areas nets alleged criminals, illegal miners, and herders; 61 others still under investigation

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps, has paraded no fewer than 95 suspected criminals arrested across all 18 local government areas of the state, marking one of the largest coordinated security sweeps in recent months.

Parading the suspects before journalists in Akure on Sunday, Amotekun Commander Akogun Adeleye disclosed that the arrests were the result of weeks of intelligence-led operations conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Army.

The Toll

According to Adeleye, the 95 suspects were apprehended for a range of offenses including kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, theft, illegal mining, and violations of the state's anti-grazing laws.

The breakdown includes:

- 12 suspects directly linked to kidnapping operations

- 19 individuals arrested for breaching public order

- 3 persons detained for anti-grazing violations

- 61 suspects currently undergoing profiling after being found inside a trailer truck

"We have 61 arrested found inside the trailer truck—suspected men that we are still profiling to determine exactly what will happen after profiling them," Adeleye explained.

Kidnapping Hotspots Targeted

The commander noted that several of the kidnapping suspects were apprehended in the restive Akure North Local Government Area, a region that has witnessed heightened criminal activity in recent months.

Specific locations where arrests were made include Ilu-Abo, Idogun-Ugbe, the Alagbaka area, Ayede, Iloro Camp, and Ogbese—all within Akure North.

"The good news is that some of the kidnapping-related suspects were arrested in the restive Akure North Local Government Area, and we believe this will translate to peace in the area, especially with the joint operation currently going on," Adeleye said.

Named Suspects

Among those paraded were Victor, 31; Jonathan, 34; Akpan, 35; Aliu, 27; Sanni, 20; Adeoye, 44; Ayodeji, 50; Abdullahi, 24; Doman, 25; Isaac, 20; Peter, 25; and Dada, 42. Anti-grazing suspects identified include Umai Jibril and Hassan.

Collaborative Success

Adeleye emphasized that the operation's success hinged on unprecedented collaboration among all security agencies operating in the state.

"I want to place it on record that we were able to achieve this through the collaborative efforts of all the security agencies in the state, especially the police, the NSCDC, the DSS, and the Nigerian Army," he stressed.

Warning to Criminals

The Amotekun commander issued a stern warning to criminal elements operating in or considering Ondo State as a base of operations.

"Ondo State is not a safe haven for criminals. We will continue to collaborate with sister agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property," Adeleye declared.

With 61 suspects still under investigation and the joint operation continuing, residents of Ondo State—particularly those in Akure North—may finally see the relief they have long awaited. For the 12 alleged kidnappers now in custody, the message is clear: the long arm of the law, now linked arm-in-arm across multiple agencies, has finally caught up.