A sweeping, intelligence-led security operation in Ondo State has led to the arrest of 99 suspects allegedly linked to a string of violent and property-related crimes across the state.

The crackdown was the outcome of a coordinated raid involving the Ondo State Police Command, the 32 Brigade Artillery of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Directorate of State Services and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps.

Police spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh said the joint team moved simultaneously on identified black spots, criminal hideouts and flashpoints that had been under surveillance for weeks. The suspects are being investigated for offences including armed robbery, burglary, theft, cultism and related crimes.

Security operatives also recovered items believed to have been used in criminal operations, alongside suspected stolen property and other incriminating exhibits. The seized materials are being catalogued as part of ongoing investigations.

Jimoh explained that all 99 suspects are undergoing screening and profiling to determine their level of involvement. Those found to have credible cases against them will be charged in court, while others may be released if cleared by investigators.

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, praised the professionalism and synergy displayed by the participating agencies, describing the operation as a model for future joint actions. He stressed that sustained collaboration among security outfits is central to dismantling entrenched criminal networks.

Lawal warned that Ondo State would not be allowed to become a sanctuary for criminals, vowing that security agencies would continue to track, disrupt and prosecute offenders wherever they operate. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and regular joint raids in high-risk areas.

The latest operation follows a series of recent arrests, including four suspected kidnappers linked to a deadly attack along Liberty Avenue in Ilu-Abo, where a resident, John Ofuduwa, was killed and a woman, Oladeinde Tomilola, abducted before later regaining her freedom.

Authorities are urging residents to support security agencies with timely and credible information, insisting that community cooperation remains vital to sustaining peace. The police command has assured the public that every actionable lead will be pursued and that all perpetrators of crime will be vigorously prosecuted.