Amotekun deploys 1,200 operatives for round-the-clock patrol across Ondo
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, has deployed 1,200 operatives across all 18 local government areas to conduct round-the-clock security patrols ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Targeting vulnerable border communities, thick forests, and known criminal flashpoints, this strategic security operation aims to curb kidnapping, violent crime, and other emerging threats throughout the festive period.
While parading 15 suspects arrested for various offences, the state commandant of Amotekun, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, explained that the significant increase in vehicular and human traffic during the festive season typically creates opportunities for criminal activities.
To counter these threats effectively, the command has launched its 2026 ‘Ember Months’ security initiative, codenamed ‘Laafia Dandan’, which incorporates continuous patrols, enhanced personnel training, strengthened intelligence gathering, and expanded ranger deployments in forest reserves.
Highlighting recent operational breakthroughs, Adeleye disclosed that a three-month manhunt led to the arrest of four suspected kidnappers implicated in the abduction of a local farmer and the tragic murder of a prominent woman known as Iya Okeigbo.
Furthermore, several other suspects were apprehended in connection with violations of the state’s anti-grazing legislation and actions causing public disturbance.
Reflecting on the agency’s performance over the preceding quarter, the commandant revealed that 301 suspects were arrested and 27 legal convictions secured, alongside the successful resolution of 102 civil disputes through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Looking ahead, Adeleye announced that surveillance will be intensified across all forest zones and electronic monitoring systems introduced at state borders, while appealing to residents to assist security agencies with timely, credible intelligence.
