Amotekun Corps Arrests 39 Suspects allegedly fleeing from Sokoto following the US Airstrike on Christmas Day
Following the US airstrike on Sokoto on Christmas Day, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, announced that it had arrested 39 suspects who allegedly fled Sokoto State after the strike and relocated to the forest reserves in Ondo.
Adetunji Adeleye, the State Commander of Amotekun Corps, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Akure while parading the suspects who were arrested.
According to Adeleye, he explained that the 39 suspects were caught trying to enter Ondo’s forest reserves after allegedly fleeing Sokoto after the United States military strike against ISIS terrorists on December 25.
Adeleye said, “A couple of days ago, the 39 suspects were apprehended together at the Elegbeka axis in Ose Local Government Area, a notorious security flashpoint where the Olufon of Ifon was murdered some years ago. They claimed they relocated into the forests due to the strike on them in the northern part of the country.”
He further added that the Elegbeka axis has been a notorious center point for criminal activities, and that’s why Amotekun had established a permanent control post inside the forest to curb kidnapping and armed robbery.
“For anyone to stay in our forest areas, the government has made it clear that such a person must obtain permits. The sudden influx of these elements raises serious questions,” Adeleye said.
Furthermore, according to reports, he also presented 22 other individuals detained for various criminal offenses across the state. The Commander also confirmed that the security outfit had arrested over 100 suspects in the month of December.
He gave a breakdown of the offenses of the suspects that were arrested. Adeleye stated that 50 suspects were arrested for breach of law and order, two suspects for anti-open grazing violations, six suspects for kidnapping-related offences, and three suspects for rape and gender-based violence.
With this development, the ongoing security concerns in Ondo State seem to be on the rise, particularly in forest reserves that have become hideouts for criminal elements.
