Terror Flight: Amotekun Intercepts 39 Terror Suspects Fleeing U.S. Airstrikes in Sokoto

​AKURE, Nigeria — The ripple effects of the Christmas Day United States military intervention in North-western Nigeria reached the South-West on Tuesday, as the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps, paraded 39 suspected terrorists who reportedly fled the “powerful and deadly” airstrikes in Sokoto State.

​The suspects were part of a larger group of 61 individuals apprehended across Ondo State during the Yuletide season for various crimes, including kidnapping, robbery, and gender-based violence.

​The Flight from Sokoto

​According to the Amotekun State Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, the 39 suspects—aged between 18 and 45—admitted during interrogation that they were escaping the intense military heat in Sokoto. This follows the December 25-26 precision strikes authorized by U.S. President Donald Trump, where Navy warships in the Gulf of Guinea launched over a dozen Tomahawk missiles at Islamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP) and Lakurawa militant enclaves in the Bauni forest of Tangaza, Sokoto.

​“These 39 suspects themselves claimed they fled from the Sokoto area,” Adeleye told newsmen in Akure. “They are currently undergoing rigorous profiling. Those found with incriminating materials or proven links to terror cells will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

​Security Dragnet Tightens

​The arrests underscore the porous nature of internal borders and the tactical shift of insurgent elements moving toward the South-West to evade aerial bombardment. In response, Amotekun has:

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• ​Intensified Patrols: Strengthening surveillance along border communities linking Ondo with Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Edo, and Kwara states.
• ​Forest Surveillance: Deploying Amotekun Rangers to a 24-hour watch over forest reserves to prevent the establishment of new terror camps.
• ​Inter-Agency Synergy: Collaboration with the Nigeria Police, Army, DSS, and Civil Defence (NSCDC).

​Criminal Breakdown: Kidnappers and “One-Chance” Gangs

​Beyond the terror suspects, the parade highlighted a successful crackdown on local criminal syndicates. Notable arrests included:

• ​Kidnapping: Two suspects, Mustafa (34) and Philip (45), were nabbed in the Odigbo area, while three others—Idris (18), Ibrahim (20), and Lawal (23)—were caught along the Isua-Akoko axis.
• ​Armed Robbery: A gang specialized in “One-Chance” robberies—picking up passengers and dispossessing them at gunpoint—was dismantled in Akure North. A stolen vehicle intended for sale in Abuja was recovered.
• ​Gender-Based Violence: Three individuals were detained for alleged rape and the assault of Amotekun officers.

​Commitment to Safety

​Commander Adeleye praised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for providing the resources necessary for “Operation Le Jade Phase Two,” which is set to launch on January 1. He urged residents to remain vigilant, particularly when using public transportation, and to avoid vehicles without visible registration markings.