Newsbreak: 39 terrorists nabbed in Ondo as armed men relocate to SW after Sokoto attack
By Omolade Adegbuyi and Samuel Ogunsona
About 39 terrorists have been arrested in Ondo State on Monday.
Security operatives claim they were fleeing from recent United States and Nigeria collaborative onslaught against radical Islamists.
This has confirmed the relocation of armed insurgents to the South West.
Irohinoodua waa informed that the men were fully armed and were preparing a camp in Ondo State when Amotekun operatives swooped on the
The Ondo State Security Network, also known as the Amotekun Corps, arrested the 39 terrorists in a dawn raid, trusted local sources said.
The Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM) had urged the South West States to prepare for possible terror revenge in the wake of the attacks on the groups in Sokoto, the official seat of the caliphate
Our correspondent was informed that the terrorists were fished out by Operatives of the Amotekun Corps who arrested them at Elegbeka Forest in Ose Local Government Area of the state.
The Corps Commandant of the Amotekun in the state, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye confirmed the incidence.
He spoke while parading some 61 suspected criminals at the corps headquarters in Akure, the state capital.
Adeleye said the terrorists claimed they left Sokoto following the US attacks on Christmas day.
Amotekun said the ages of the terrorists range from 18 and 45.
He said they were hiding in the forest with two vehicles parked at a far distance.
Adeleye said “The major issue is, why were they in this black spot in the forest then, when we were on patrol chasing kidnappers, and they claimed the heat was turned on them?”
He argued that the sudden movement of terrorists raised deep concern.
“A couple of days ago, 39 suspects were arrested altogether, claiming that as a result of the heat turned on them in the northern part of the country, they are relocating to the forest.
“They were not trekking. They were hibernating in the forest there, with two vehicles far away from them. So, we found out, trapped them, and located where they were all hiding. We brought them together. As I said, profiling is almost completed”he said
Adeleye spoke further that “We are still profiling them, and after profiling, we may send some back. But those found with incriminating equipment and materials will surely be prosecuted.
“The government has made its position known: For you to stay in our forest areas, you must obtain permits. So, the sudden influx of these elements poses a lot of questions that we are still working on,” he said.
Adeleye said some criminals, about 100 of them were arrested across the 18 local governments of the state, out of which 61 were paraded.
He said 50 were apprehended for breaches of law and order, two for anti-open grazing violations, six for kidnapping-related cases, and three for gender abuse and rape.”
“Coming to specifics, around the Ofosu-Odigbo area, we arrested 34-year-old Mustafa and 45-year-old Philip for kidnapping at the scene. We also have, in the Isua Akoko axis, 18-year-old Idris, 20-year-old Ibrahim Abdullahi, and 23-year-old Lawal Idris.
“On rape and assault on Amotekun Corps officers, we have 19-year-old Daniel Ojo, 33-year-old Usman, and 41-year-old Bejide for raping in Isinkan. On armed robbery, we arrested 30-year-old Ola Tunbosun, Ibrahim, and Shahidu at the shores of Akure North, Oba Akoko, and Oba Ile, also in Akure North,” Adeleye said.
