Ondo Amotekun parades five suspects, rescues kidnap victims after forest shootout

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, on Thursday paraded five suspects linked to kidnapping, attempted abduction, and fraud following a series of coordinated operations across the state.

The State Commander of the Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, who disclosed this to newsmen during the parade at the agency’s headquarters in Akure, said the arrests were made within the last 48 hours under “Operation Le Won Jade”

Adeleye said the arrest was made possible with support from the Border Patrol unit and the ongoing ember-month 24/7 security watch.

He disclosed that four of the suspects were apprehended in connection with a kidnapping incident that occurred around 4:50 p.m. on Monday.

He said, “a distress call had alerted operatives to heavy gunfire inside a forest, prompting the deployment of a rapid response team that later joined forces with local security outfits.

“On entering the forest where the incident occurred, our men came under heavy attack. At the end of the operation, we successfully rescued four of the five kidnapped passengers, though regrettably the bus driver was shot dead when the attackers tried to forcefully halt the vehicle.

“The rescue effort lasted over three hours, with operatives combing the forest in pursuit of the armed gang.

“Among the rescued were three women and a bus conductor. One of the women, who was shot before the arrival of Amotekun operatives, was stabilised at the corps’ medical facility.

“Two of the suspected kidnappers believed to have fired at officers and killed the bus driver were arrested during the operation.

In another incident, the Commander said operatives foiled the attempted abduction of a female correctional service officer.

He explained that the suspects, who had posed as visitors to inmates, lured the officer under the pretence of assisting her to town before attempting to kidnap her.

“She escaped after raising the alarm near the Amotekun outpost at Cathedral Junction, where personnel swiftly intervened to rescue her and arrest the suspects.

“The fifth suspect paraded was accused of defrauding his employer of ₦77.2 million, attempting to sell her property and issuing death threats.

Adeleye reaffirmed the corps’ zero-tolerance stance on crime and said, “there is no hiding place for criminals, bandits or kidnappers in Ondo state. All rescued victims received treatment at no cost, and no ransom was paid.”

He also announced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s approval for the recruitment of 500 additional Amotekun operatives, urging interested applicants to download and submit their forms via the agency’s website on or before December 8, 2025.

Adeleye added that Amotekun, working in synergy with the military, police, DSS, civil defence, vigilantes and local hunters, has intensified regional security coordination.

He assured residents that major roads, communities and public spaces across the Southwest are being reinforced to ensure a safer, crime-free environment.

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