Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of 32 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with local vigilantes, have arrested two suspected terrorist informants during an offensive operation in the forested areas of Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. The operation, which took place at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Monday, 25 May 2026, targeted criminal hideouts and intelligence networks around the communities of Itagbolu, Iju, Igbogun Iju and Iju Alagbun. Military sources disclosed that the two suspects were apprehended for allegedly providing critical information and logistical support to terrorist elements operating in the region, a development the army said was part of broader counter-insurgency efforts to dismantle criminal networks before the planting season.
According to multiple security sources, the operation was intelligence‑driven, relying on tips from local residents who had reported suspicious movements in the border communities. “The troops carried out the operation in collaboration with local vigilantes. They targeted forested communities around Itagbolu, Iju, Igbogun Iju and Iju Alagbun,” a military source told Zagazola Makama, a counter‑insurgency publication. The suspects were arrested after a brief pursuit and have since been transferred to the Ondo State Security Network Agency, widely known as Amotekun, for further investigation. The state’s homeland security outfit is expected to conduct additional interrogation and intelligence gathering before the suspects are handed over to the appropriate prosecuting authorities.
The operation underscored the growing synergy between the military and local security structures in tackling the spread of violent extremism into the South‑West. Over the past year, security forces have repeatedly warned that kidnappers and armed groups were exploiting the dense forest corridors along the Ondo‑Edo‑Kogi axis to evade capture and restock supplies. The use of local informants, who provide real‑time intelligence on troop movements, convoy schedules, and vulnerable communities, has been identified as a key enabler of sustained attacks in the region. By arresting two suspected informants, troops of 32 Brigade have effectively severed a channel of communication that likely would have facilitated future strikes on rural settlements and travellers along the Akure‑Owo highway.
The Joint Security Media Campaign of Operation Enduring Peace, which covers parts of Ondo, Ekiti and Kogi states, has consistently called on residents to report any strangers or unusual activities in their neighbourhoods. The cooperation between the military and local vigilantes in Akure North reflects the success of that community‑based approach. While no official statement has been issued by the army headquarters, a senior officer involved in the operation confirmed that the suspects were already assisting with ongoing investigations. “We are following all leads, and we will not stop until every person connected to terror logistics in this area is arrested and prosecuted,” the officer said.
The arrest of the two informants comes just days after troops of 32 Brigade arrested three suspected bandits in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, following a reported attack on a resident. In a separate operation, troops also neutralised two suspected armed robbers along the Akure‑Owo road and recovered stolen valuables. These actions suggest a ramping up of military patrols across the state, particularly in areas that have recorded increased incidences of kidnapping and violent crime.
The suspects are currently in the custody of Amotekun, pending further investigation. The agency’s commander, Adetunji Adeleye, has not issued a public statement on the matter, but security sources say the suspects will likely be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit terrorism, an offence that carries severe penalties under Nigerian law. As the planting season begins, the military has vowed to sustain clearance operations to ensure that farmers can access their lands without the fear of attack or extortion. The message is clear: those who aid, abet or facilitate terrorism will be hunted down, no matter how deep they hide in the forests of the South‑West.
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