Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, widely known as the Amotekun Corps, have taken into custody 39 individuals suspected to be terrorists who were allegedly camped within a forest in the state.
The arrests were carried out at the Elegbeka Forest, located in Ose Local Government Area, during routine security patrols conducted by personnel of the corps. According to Amotekun officials, the suspects were intercepted following actionable intelligence gathered while operatives were on the trail of suspected kidnappers believed to be operating in the axis.
The Ondo State Amotekun Commandant, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, made this disclosure on Tuesday at the agency’s headquarters in Akure, the state capital, where a total of 61 suspected criminals were paraded before the public.
Adeleye explained that preliminary findings revealed the arrested individuals, whose ages range between 18 and 45 years, claimed they had migrated from various parts of the country. The suspects reportedly told investigators that sustained military air operations against terrorist groups in other regions forced them to flee and seek refuge in the forest.
He further disclosed that the group had established a camp deep inside the forest, while two vehicles linked to them were discovered parked at a considerable distance from their hideout, a development that heightened suspicion among operatives.
According to the commandant, the location where the suspects were found is already regarded as a security flashpoint, making their presence there particularly alarming to the agency.
“A few days ago, we arrested 39 suspects in total. They claimed that due to intense pressure and military action in the northern part of the country, they relocated to this forest,” Adeleye said. “They did not arrive on foot. They were hiding inside the forest, with two vehicles stationed far away. We were able to track them, surround the area, identify their hideout, and apprehend all of them.”
He noted that the profiling and screening of the suspects were almost concluded, adding that those against whom no incriminating evidence is found may be released. However, individuals discovered to be in possession of suspicious items or linked to criminal activities would be charged to court in line with the law.
Adeleye also reiterated the state government’s policy that anyone residing or carrying out activities within forest zones must obtain official authorisation. He stressed that the sudden movement of unfamiliar groups into forest areas across Ondo State constituted a serious security threat that required careful and thorough investigation.
“The government has been very clear: anyone who intends to stay in forest areas must have proper permits. The sudden influx of these elements raises many unanswered questions, and investigations are ongoing,” he said.
Meanwhile, THE WHISTLER reports that a Yoruba socio-political organisation, Yoruba for Democratic Values (YDV), recently expressed concern over the growing insecurity in the South-West, noting that many farmers are abandoning their farmlands due to repeated attacks by bandits and criminal herders.
The group warned that forest reserves in Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, and parts of Kwara states have increasingly become safe havens for armed groups, forcing rural dwellers to flee their communities and severely disrupting agricultural activities.
YDV stressed that the worsening security situation carries grave economic consequences, particularly for the South-West, a region traditionally recognised as a major centre for agriculture and commerce. The group noted that the area supplies large quantities of staple food crops to both local and national markets.
According to the organisation, persistent insecurity in farming communities could worsen food shortages, drive up prices, and destroy livelihoods, making the restoration of security not only a safety necessity but also an economic priority.
“The South-West has historically been a hub of agriculture, trade, and cultural heritage. Its farmlands produce essential crops such as yam, cassava, plantain, and rice. The increasing presence of bandits, criminal herders, and armed networks is already crippling agricultural productivity, with many farmers abandoning their fields out of fear,” the group stated.
YDV warned that prolonged insecurity in the region would threaten food supply chains at both regional and national levels and destabilise a zone that has long contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic stability, adding that allowing such threats to persist would undermine the social and economic foundations of the South-West.