Crime
US strike: Amotekun arrests 39 suspects fleeing Sokoto in Ondo forest (PHOTOS)
The ripple effects of the recent United States–backed military strike against ISIS terrorists in Northern Nigeria have reached Ondo State, as the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, on Tuesday announced the arrest of 39 suspects who allegedly fled Sokoto State and relocated to forest reserves in the state.
Adetunji Adeleye, the State Commander of Amotekun, disclosed this while parading 61 suspects arrested for various criminal offences at the agency’s headquarters in Akure.
According to Adeleye, the 39 suspects were apprehended at the Elegbeka axis in Ose Local Government Area, a notorious security flashpoint where the Olufon of Ifon was murdered some years ago.
“A couple of days ago, 39 suspects were arrested together, claiming that as a result of the heat turned on them in the northern part of the country, they relocated into the forest,” Adeleye said.
Adeleye, who described Elegbeka as a long-standing black spot for criminal activities, said 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,” he noted.
He explained that the suspects were not trekking when arrested but were hibernating inside the forest, with vehicles parked far away from their hideout. “We trapped them and brought them together. Profiling is almost completed. We are still profiling them. Those found with incriminating materials will surely be prosecuted.”
The Amotekun Commander explained that the arrests were part of the agency’s ember-month security operations, which involved officers deployed on four major operations across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State, which ultimately yielded over 100 arrests
“As we round up the ember-month patrol, which ends tomorrow, we have arrested about 100 suspects, out of which 61 are on parade today,” he stated.
He said a breakdown of the offences showed that: 50 suspects were arrested for breach of law and order, 2 suspects for anti-open grazing violations, 6 suspects for kidnapping-related offences, and 3 suspects for rape and gender-based violence.
Adeleye added that although the ember-month patrol would end shortly, security operations would not relent. “Operation Le Won Jade Phase Two will commence from January 1, while our 24/7 patrol continues, just as the Amotekun Rangers domiciled in the forests will remain active.”
Adeleye said two suspects, Mustafa (34) and Philip (45) were arrested for kidnapping around the Ofosu, Odigbo axis, while three others Idris (18), Ibrahim Abdullahi (20), and Lawal Idris (23) were apprehended in Isua Akoko.
On rape and assault on Amotekun officers, he disclosed that Daniel Ojo (19), Usman (33) and Bejide (41) were arrested in the Isinkan area of Akure. “In addition, Amotekun operatives arrested Ola Tunbosun (30), alongside Ibrahim and Shahidu, for armed robbery across Akure North, Oba Akoko and Oba-Ile.”
The Amotekun boss also revealed that the agency recently smashed a robbery gang that had been terrorising residents of Akure and other parts of the state. “The robbery took place in the heart of Akure. They stole a car on display and dispossessed residents of their valuables.
According to him, the suspects used unpainted taxis without clear registration numbers to lure passengers before threatening them with guns and robbing them. “We were able to arrest three suspects and the taxi. I appeal to members of the public to be wary of taxis without readable registration numbers,” he cautioned.
Responding to questions on security reinforcement following the military strikes in the North, Adeleye confirmed that inter-state collaboration among the Southwest Amotekun corps had significantly improved border security.
“The synergy between the border patrols of Ondo/Ekiti, Ondo/Osun and Ondo/Ogun has been yielding tremendous results,” he said. In fact, some suspects not paraded today were arrested in Ogun State and brought back to Ondo.”
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Crime
PHOTOS: NDLEA intercepts N6.2bn worth of ‘Jihadi drug’ in Ghana soap, opioids at Lagos airport
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of captagon, widely known as ‘Jihadi drug’ and millions of opioid pills worth over N6.2 billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
The captagon shipment was seized at the Lagos airport on Saturday 22nd August 2026 following the arrest of a 49-year-old cross-border kingpin Akinbile Kazeem Aikins, who arrived from Accra Ghana aboard an African World Airlines flight.
A search of his carton of local bathing soap, popularly called “Ghana Soap,” led to the recovery of 47,200 pills of the illicit amphetamine drug worth over N1.5 billion concealed within blocks of soap. Captagon, which is notoriously dubbed the ‘Jihadi drug’ for its use in funding extremist activities in conflict zones, was first intercepted in Nigeria by NDLEA in September 2021 at the Apapa port in Lagos. After his arrest, Akinbile claimed he was meant to deliver the consignment in the North.
In another successful interdiction operation at the Lagos airport, no fewer than 3,900,030 tablets of Tramaking 225mg and Tapentadol 250mg, with a combined gross weight of 2,787.40 kilograms and more than N4.6 billion in street value, were recovered from four abandoned consignments at the import shed of the MMIA. Three of the consignments, comprising 900,000 tablets of Tramaking (815.40kg), arrived aboard RwandAir flights from Bangladesh, while a fourth, comprising 3,000,030 tablets of Tapentadol (1,972kg), arrived on Qatar Airways from Amsterdam.
The shipments, which had been placed under close watch after no one showed up to claim them, were formally retrieved after a joint examination by NDLEA officers, Customs and other stakeholders on Friday 28th August.
A 31-year-old US-returnee, Sowunmi David Oludotun was on 19th August arrested by NDLEA operatives at Ikate area of Lekki after he showed up to take delivery of 3.350 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis imported from the United Kingdom.
Fireproof safe cracked open in Rivers drug den raid
In Rivers state, NDLEA operatives have raided the notorious Abuja Down/Up area of Port Harcourt where they recovered a fireproof iron safe among other items. When the safe was cracked open with a welding machine on Tuesday 25th August, 237 grams of colorado; 316 grams of cocaine, and 10 grams of heroin were recovered from it.
Three suspects: Oyedele Daniel, 42; Taye Saliu, 36; and Kehinde Saliu, 36, were on Friday 28th August nabbed at Ipele-Idoani road, in Ondo state with a total of 728kg skunk recovered from their truck marked KRE 120 XB. Two other suspects: Uche Joseph, 35, and Godwin Umeh, 21, were arrested at Aponmu forest with 341kg of same substance on Wednesday 26th August.
In Delta state, over 176,000 pills of assorted opioids including tramadol, molly and others were recovered from two interdiction operations in parts of the state between Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th August.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Markaz Littahfizul Quran Wal Islamiyyat, Dadin Kowa, Gombe; Zangina Islamiyyah Alasawa Kurna, Ungogo LGA, Kano; youths at the adolescent lifestyle programme organised by NNPCL in Benin city, Edo state; while the Ondo State Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the State Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, with the Taraba state command of the Agency paying a similar advocacy visit to the State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Ondo, and Delta Commands for the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.
He also directed them to sustain the momentum against drug traffickers who are desperate to explore every means, including concealment in everyday household items like soap, to move their illicit consignments.
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The Benue State Police Command has arrested a 500-level student of Fr Moses Adasu University, formerly Benue State University, for allegedly attacking a neighbour with hot water. LawEnforcement
The spokesperson for the command, DSP Peter Aondongu, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, August 29, 2026 said that an investigation had commenced to unravel the cause of fighting between the two students.
“Yes, it happened yesterday, Friday, August 28, 2026. From the information I have, both students were staying in the same room and had an issue. The suspect allegedly boiled water, added salt and pepper, and poured the mixture on the victim and then locked her inside,” the PPRO said.
“After some time, people became aware of what had happened and were able to intervene and rescue the victim. She was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment, while the suspect was arrested.
“I don’t have much information yet about the genesis of the disagreement or what led to the incident, but I can confirm that the incident happened. I also understand that both of them are students of the Benue State University.”
Narrating what might have transpired between the two female students, the Students’ Union President, Akighirga Vitalis, who led members of his executive to the hospital, said that Rose explained that there was a disagreement with the suspect identified as Felicia, which allegedly escalated into the violent attack.
Vitalis said that the duo had been living together before disagreements over personal matters began to strain their relationship.
While expressing shock over the condition of the student and condemning the alleged attack, Vitalis described it as “a grave and unacceptable assault on the life and well-being of a fellow student.”
“We are deeply concerned about this incident. The Students’ Union will follow this matter closely until justice prevails,” he said.
The union president assured all that the union would engage relevant authorities and monitor the investigation, as well as any disciplinary process that may arise within the university.
Vitalis said that if the allegations against Felicia are established through due process, the Students’ Union would support the application of appropriate sanctions under the university’s regulations, including expulsion where warranted.
“The Students’ Union will not condone violence or any conduct capable of endangering the life of another student,” Vitalis added.
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