The Ondo State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities with a major security operation in the Ilu-Abo Forest and surrounding communities, leading to the destruction of suspected criminal hideouts.
The operation, led by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Felix Ohagwu, involved tactical commanders and operatives who combed identified flashpoints, forest routes and locations believed to be used by kidnappers and other criminal elements.
According to the command, the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence and other crimes across the state.
During the operation, security operatives reportedly uncovered and dismantled several makeshift camps suspected to have served as hideouts for criminals.
The structures were destroyed, while extensive searches were conducted within the forest to prevent the camps from being re-established.
The police said the operation was aimed at disrupting criminal networks, restricting the movement of suspected criminals and strengthening public confidence in the state’s security framework.
Addressing officers during the exercise, Ohagwu reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven and proactive policing, stressing that forests and remote locations would no longer be allowed to serve as safe havens for kidnappers and other criminal elements.
He assured residents that the command would continue sustained operations across identified criminal hotspots to enhance security and protect lives and property.
The police commissioner added that the operation aligned with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, aimed at strengthening internal security and tackling violent crimes nationwide.
Ohagwu also commended the officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and urged them to maintain the momentum until criminal threats in the state were effectively curtailed.
The command appealed to residents to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing efforts to keep the state safe.