By our Reporter
The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, has led an extensive operational sweep of the Ilu-Abo Forest and adjoining communities as part of ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across the state.
The operation, which involved tactical commanders and police operatives, was aimed at denying criminal elements safe havens and strengthening security within identified flashpoints and forest corridors believed to be used by criminals as operational bases.
According to the Ondo State Police Command, the exercise formed part of its sustained offensive against violent crimes and focused on combing suspected criminal enclaves and remote forest locations within the axis.
During the operation, several suspected hideouts were discovered and dismantled. Makeshift camps and structures believed to have been used for criminal activities were destroyed, while operatives carried out extensive searches of the surrounding forest to prevent the re-establishment of such camps.
Police authorities said the operation was designed to disrupt criminal networks, restrict the movement of criminal elements and reinforce public confidence in the state’s security architecture.
Addressing officers during the exercise, CP Ohagwu reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to proactive and intelligence-driven policing, stressing that forests and remote locations within Ondo State would not be allowed to serve as sanctuaries for kidnappers and other criminal groups.
He assured residents that the Command would continue to sustain aggressive operations across identified crime-prone areas to ensure the safety of lives and property.
The Commissioner noted that the operation aligns with the strategic directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, aimed at strengthening internal security and tackling violent crimes nationwide.
He commended the dedication, resilience and professionalism displayed by the operatives involved in the exercise and urged them to maintain the momentum until all criminal threats within the state are effectively neutralised.
The Ondo State Police Command reiterated its determination to protect lives and property and appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information that could aid ongoing security operations.
The Command assured residents that efforts would remain focused on ensuring a safer and more secure environment across all parts of Ondo State.
