Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Ondo State

  • Ondo Amotekun arrests 39 suspects after Sokoto airstrike spillover scare

    Ondo Amotekun arrests 39 suspects after Sokoto airstrike spillover scare

    2025-12-31 09:07:00

    Reporting by PUNCH indicates the Ondo State Amotekun Corps arrested 39 suspects it says fled Sokoto State and moved into forest reserves in Ondo following recent airstrikes targeting extremist hideouts in the North‑West.

    The corps said the arrests were made near the Elegbeka axis in Ose LGA during an operation that also netted other suspects linked to kidnapping and armed robbery, as the state tightens security around forest corridors.

    Officials said profiling is ongoing, including possible prosecution or handover to relevant authorities depending on the outcome of investigations.

    Channels Television reported that the suspects “confessed that they are fleeing from the northern part of the country due to the recent attacks launched against them,” while TheCable wrote Amotekun “has arrested 39 suspected terrorists who allegedly fled Sokoto and relocated to forest reserves in the state.”

    Echotitbits take: This is the ‘balloon effect’ of counter‑terror pressure—fighters scatter into softer targets and forest belts. Expect more inter‑state coordination in the South‑West and tighter controls on forest reserves; watch how prosecution is handled to avoid recycling suspects.

    Source: The Punch — December 31, 2025 (https://punchng.com/us-strike-39-fleeing-sokoto-suspects-arrested-in-ondo/)

    The Punch December 31, 2025

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • AAUA Hires 32 First-Class Graduates as Graduate Assistants

    Adekunle Ajasin University has offered graduate assistant appointments to 32 first-class graduates, subject to post-NYSC return and institutional conditions. The university framed the move as recognition of excellence and a talent-retention strategy.

    The development highlights an emerging trend of fast-tracking outstanding alumni into early academic-career roles.

    2025-12-09

    Punch

    2025-12-09

  • Akeredolu inaugurates Amotekun in Ondo, tasks FG on more police funding

    Akeredolu inaugurates Amotekun in Ondo, tasks FG on more police funding

    Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has inaugurated the pioneer officers of Ondo State Security network Agency Amotekun Corps.

    During the inauguration ceremony in Akure, the state capital , Governor Akeredolu expressed delight with the performance of the pioneer Amotekun corps officers, who recently completed their training.

    In his remark, the Governor urged the corps officers to put to good use the knowledge gained from the training to ensure security of life and property in the state.

    Akeredolu who pleaded with the Federal Government to allocate more fund for equiping the police, explained that the Amotekun Corps is designed to support the existing security framework in the state.

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    Stressing that with a workable synergy among the leadership of the security agencies and that of Amotekun, the Governor expressed confidence that a water-tight strategy capable of arresting crimes even before they occur could be achieved.

    At the ceremony, the Governor commissioned some equipment that will aid the effective operation of the corps officers, including vehicles, motorcycles, and other communication gadgets.

    In his remarks, the Commander of Ondo State Amotekun Corps, Ade Adeleye commended Governor Akeredolu for making the dream of the security outfit come alive.

    Commander of the Ondo State Amotekum Corps, Ade Adeleye, addresses guests and men of the security outfit at the inauguration ceremony.

    Adeleye said that the Amotekun Corps was a child of necessity born out of the need to explore other means of securing communities across Ondo State.

    The Ondo Amotekun Corps inauguration was well attended by government officials, traditional and religious leaders, including representatives of the Nigerian Police Force, Ondo Command.

    Ondo is the latest Southwest state in Nigeria to inaugurate its own command of the Amotekun Corps, which came to light by the determination of Governors in the region to tackle growing insecurity.

    The governors of the Southwest met and agreed to establish a security outfit that will support the security framework of the region.

    At the early stage, the plan to own a regional security outfit was greeted with mixed reactions, while some persons said it was a good idea, others believed Amotekun is a ploy to decentralize the police through the back door.

    One of the worries of those against the security outfit was that Amotekun will be a tool in the hands of politicians to fan their self-interest.

    On the ground of a number of concerns, the Federal Government frowned at the Soutwest governors and even went ahead to declare illegal, the establishment of the security outfit.

    In a communique in January 2020, Special Assistant, Media and Public Relations (Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice), Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu declared on behalf of government that “The setting up of the paramilitary organization called “Amotekun” is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law”.

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    The Federal Government maintained that “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the Army, Navy, and Airforce, including the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria”.

    The Federal Goverent’s initial resistance to the regional security outfit led the Southwest governors to meet the President, which resulted in unanimous resolutions that allowed states in the region to proceed with Amotekun.

    The resolutions include: That the structure of Amotekun should align with the Federal Government’s community policing strategy; that necessary legal instruments be put in place by each state to give legal backing and regulatory measures to Amotekun.

    More photos:

    In this photo, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is seated next to the Commander of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, at the inauguration of the security outfit.
    Members of the Amotekun Corps mount a guard of honour at the inauguration of the Ondo State arm of the security outfit

  • Ondo 2020: Rotimi Akeredolu wins primary with wide margin

    Ondo 2020: Rotimi Akeredolu wins primary with wide margin

    The Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has emerged winner in the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Monday in Akure, the state capital.

    Akeredolu, who led other aspirants in all the 18 local government of the state with a wide margin, polled 2458 votes to defeat other nine aspirants in the election.

    Earlier on Tuesday, two aspirants, Ifeoluwa Oyedele and Olusegun Abraham decided to step down for Akeredolu, who will for the second time represent the party in the October 10 governorship election in the state.

    Shortly after he was announced winner, after counting and sorting of votes, by the chairman of the election, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state; Governor Akeredolu thanked the Chairman and committee members for conducting a free and fair election.

    He also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the APC for their support.

    Commending the state APC leadership as well as delegates who participated in the primary election, Akeredolu expressed assurance that the party will be victorious at the October, 10 2020, poll.

    With the primary over in the Ondo APC, Akeredolu’s main challenger will be known on Wednesday after PDP has conducted its primary election.

  • Ondo Primary: Akeredolu, Ajayi ‘throw fireworks’ at each other, tension rises

    Ondo Primary: Akeredolu, Ajayi ‘throw fireworks’ at each other, tension rises

    As political gladiators prepare ahead of primary election in Ondo state,  there is heighened anxiety among the two major parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The APC, despite internal wranglings over the decision to adopt indirect primary will today, Monday elect it’s governorship candidate with 3,127 delegates, while PDP will on Wednesday elect its governorship flag bearer.

    However, the media war between the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his enstranged Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi intensified on Sunday. 

    The Deputy Governor, who defected to the opposition party PDP alleged that Akeredolu had run the state aground. In his reaction, the Governor vowed not to be distracted from clinching his party’s ticket to run for second term in office at the primary election today.

    A major crisis, however, has erupted within the PDP after some youths alleged that one of the aspirants was wooing each delegate with $1,000, raising the alarm that the party’s primary election might not be free and fare but go to the highest bidder.

    As tension rises in both camps, the Ondo State Police Command has cautioned against thuggery and violence, urging parents to warn their children and wards.

    Similarly, the Chief Imam of Akure, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi-Akorede, advised APC and PDP chieftains to embrace peace before, during and after the election.

    In his response to a statement credited to Governor Akeredolu saying the selection of his Deputy Governor as running mate in 2016 was an error of judgement, Ajayi, said Akeredolu was only frustrated over his failure to employ the state House of Assembly to impeach him from office.

    According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Babatope Okeowo, Ajayi understood the self-inflicted pain of running the state aground through inflated contracts, clannishness, nepotism and malfeasance.

    “These and many injuries Governor Akeredolu caused himself and cannot be blamed on his deputy Agboola Ajayi, whom he sidelined, shortly after the administration was sworn in.

    “It must be put on record that Akeredolu contested the 2012 governorship election and came a distant third in the election won by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Labour Party.

    “It was the experience, weight and political capital, which Agboola Ajayi brought into the 2016 gubernatorial election that produced the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state.

    “If there was any wrong choice, it’s the choice of Arakunrin Akeredolu, who has refused to take all-wise counsel not only from his deputy but from other cabinet members.”

    But the Ondo State Government said it would not take up issues with Ajayi, adding that its focus was on how Akeredolu would win today’s APC primary election.

    Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Ojo Oyewamide, said: “We would rather concentrate on our primary election than decipate energy on a vicious distraction and one cancerous being. We wish him all the best.”

  • Controversy: Odumakin insists FSARS arrested Olakunrin’s killers; No arrest made – Police

    Controversy: Odumakin insists FSARS arrested Olakunrin’s killers; No arrest made – Police

    The controversy surrounding the arrest of suspected killers of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Fasoranti might not be over yet.

    Yinka Odumakin, who is Afenifere’s spokesperson on Wednesday, confirmed to echotitbits that the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) indeed arrested suspects connected to the July 2019 murder of Funke Olakunrin.

    On how he (Odumakin) knew about the said arrest, the Afenifere spokesman noted that “We were worried for the husband until last Saturday when the Commander of Federal SARS in Ondo came to him to break the news that they have arrested four suspected killers.

    “It was Federal SARS that arrested the killers. They were taken to Police Command at Ondo town before they were moved out of Ondo state but I will not want to mention where they are now.

    “They also arrested the driver to Funke Olakunrin just two days ago (Monday).The regular Police Command as I said have been totally irresponsible. The way they are behaving over this matter is enough to make us lose confidence in the police forever”, Odumakin said.

    He berated the Police saying “if the Police Command in Ondo is yet to know that the Federal SARS arrested these people then it is a shame”

    Odumakin confirmed that it is true that the Police in Ondo did not arrest the alleged killers of Olakunrin but  accused the command of negligence.

    In his response to echotitbits, Odumakin accused the regular police command and its state SARS formation in Ondo of doing nothing on the case. He made it clear that “It was the Federal SARS that I was talking about, and as I am talking to you now, they are interrogating the suspects.”

    In a case like this it is expected that as a matter of procedure that certain steps be made in the process of unraveling the identities of the killers. But according to Odumakin the Ondo State Police Commissioner is incompetent and showed no seriousness in investigating the case.

    “The car in which Funke Olakunrin was killed, that is the most glaring evidence at the scene of crime, that car was released to the family in few hours. We asked, have you done forensic on this car, they said no. I called Frank Mba Police Headquarters PRO that was when they returned to pick the car for forensics”

    He narrated further that the Police was not ready to conduct an autopsy but retuned for the corpse two days before burial only when he (Odumakin) called Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer the second time.

    “They have not even once in 9 months visited Pa Fasoranti to even say we are investigating. They didn’t come to papa to give him briefing. The man is in agony, he was so sad, he couldn’t sleep at night, to eat was a problem”, Odumakin noted.

     

    On whether there might be connivance between some officers of the Ondo State Police Command and the driver to the late Olakunrin, Odumakin said, “I will not want to prejudice FSARS investigation. They are doing their job I just want them to do it professionally and come out with their report.

    While Odumakin commended the effort of the FSARS for a job the regular police in Ondo State failed to do according to him, he had an advice for the Police Public Relations Officer in the state.“ That PRO called me yesterday (Tuesday) and I told him he should not open his mouth on this matter again and stop embarrassing themselves.”

    However, the Police Command in Ondo State has maintained that no arrest in connection to the killing of Funke Olakunrin was made.

    In a short whatsapp response sent to echotitbits, the Public Relations Officer for the Police command in Ondo State, Tee-leo Ikoro reiterated that “first, there was no arrest. It was a misinterpretation of the favour FSARS needed from Pa Fashonranti. And to say the Command is not doing anything to ensure arrest of culprits is not true”.

    The deceased Funke Olakunrin was murdered in July 2019 when heavily armed men ambushed her and fired at her vehicle between Kajola and Ore along Ondo-Ore road. Olakunrin, who was with a family member, her maid and two other men at the time of the incidence was badly hit by bullets and later died at the hospital.