Kidnapping: Police, Army, DSS, Civil Defence, Amotekun Launch ‘Operation Show of Force’ in Ondo

…Begin massive bush combing in bandits’ hideouts

A combined team of security agencies in Ondo State has launched a major “Operation Show of Force” to curb rising cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

The operation involves personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps.

The coordinated security exercise, which began on Monday, witnessed a massive deployment of armed personnel and patrol vehicles across major streets in Akure, highways, and other identified flashpoints across the state.

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Security operatives were seen moving in convoys through strategic locations including Ilu-Abo, Ogbese, and other parts of the state as part of the show of force aimed at reassuring residents and deterring criminal elements.

Speaking during the exercise, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, said the operation was designed to demonstrate the readiness of security agencies to confront kidnappers and other criminal gangs threatening peace in the state.

“We are just implementing a coordinated joint show of force among the security agencies – the military, the police, civil defence, DSS – to show the good people of Ondo State that we have occupied the space and that there is a collaborative effort to fight crime and criminality in the state.

“You will recall that recently we have had pockets of incidents, especially around the Akure North axis. So I thought it was the right time to do this. Again, we are preparing for Sallah to show residents that we are really on track,” he said.

Also speaking, the Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, said the security agencies in the state are working together to stamp out all forms of criminality, particularly kidnapping and robbery.

He noted that the exercise involves patrols across both urban areas and forest locations where criminal elements are believed to operate.

“By all the security agencies in Ondo State, we are working in synergy to stamp out all forms of criminality, especially kidnapping, robbery and other crimes in the state. We are entering both the metropolis and the bushes. We are doing bush combing and scrutinising the nooks and crannies of the state.

“You can see that men of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services, Civil Defence and the Amotekun Corps are firmly on ground. We will move on foot, motorcycles and vehicles to all areas,” he said.

According to Adeleye, the next phase of the operation will involve moving into forest areas to flush out suspected kidnappers.

“After that, we will move into the forest to carry out the phase two of the operation ‘Le Won Jade.’ We want to drive miscreants out of the forest and push kidnappers away from those areas.

“Most kidnappings occur on the outskirts of towns. When people mention places like Oda, many think it is inside the town, but many of those incidents occur in isolated areas far away. We will enter those places and ensure these miscreants are driven out,” he added.

Adeleye, however, urged residents to support security agencies by providing credible information on suspicious movements and possible criminal hideouts in their communities.