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, carried out on June 13, 2026, was personally led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, alongside tactical commanders and other operatives as part of efforts to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across the state.
According to the police, the team conducted extensive searches of identified hotspots, forest routes and locations suspected to be serving as bases for criminal gangs operating within the area.
Several makeshift camps and structures believed to have been used by criminal elements were discovered and demolished during the exercise. Security operatives also combed through surrounding parts of the forest to prevent the camps from being re-established.
Speaking during the operation, Ohagwu said the command remained committed to proactive and intelligence-led policing aimed at ensuring criminals have no safe haven in the state.
“Forests and remote locations within Ondo State will not be allowed to serve as sanctuaries for kidnappers and other criminal elements,” the police commissioner said.
He assured residents that the command would continue to carry out sustained operations in criminal flashpoints to improve security and safeguard lives and property.
The police boss noted that the exercise was designed to disrupt criminal networks, restrict the movement of suspected criminals and strengthen public confidence in the state’s security framework.
Ohagwu said the operation aligns with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to strengthen internal security and tackle violent crimes across the country.
“We will maintain the momentum of these operations until criminal threats within the state are effectively neutralised,” he stated.
The commissioner also commended the dedication and professionalism displayed by officers who participated in the operation and urged them to remain vigilant in the ongoing fight against crime.
The Ondo State Police Command appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing efforts to keep communities safe.
Police spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, who disclosed the development in a statement on Thursday, reaffirmed the command’s determination to protect lives and property throughout the state.
