Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has issued a 14-day ultimatum to kidnappers and other criminals operating in the state’s forest reserves to vacate the forests or face security operations.

The directive was disclosed on Wednesday in Akure by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Forestry, Bidemi Obayangban, during an interview with journalists.

Obayangban said the governor’s order was specifically targeted at criminals who had turned parts of the state’s forest reserves into hideouts and were using the locations to perpetrate criminal activities.

He explained that the move was part of the administration’s efforts to restore security across the forest reserves and create an environment conducive to legitimate economic activities.

According to him, the government’s plans to revitalise the forestry sector and attract investors could not succeed without adequate security for people operating within the reserves.

“A vision without maximum security to ensure the safety of investors, farmers, timber contractors and those conducting legitimate business across Ondo State’s forest reserves is effectively meaningless,” he said.

The governor’s aide said the administration had concluded plans to tackle kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the forests, stressing that the government would not allow criminal elements to undermine its economic development plans.

He warned those operating illegally in the forests to comply with the directive within the stipulated 14-day period.

“Failure to comply will result in them meeting their Waterloo,” Obayangban said.

He noted that securing the forests was not only necessary to curb kidnapping and other criminal activities but also essential to restoring confidence among farmers, investors, timber contractors and other legitimate operators.

Obayangban said the government’s broader forestry-sector plans were designed to promote legitimate economic activities and support sustainable growth.

He maintained that the state could not achieve meaningful economic development in an environment where farmers, investors and other legitimate businesses remained exposed to security threats.

The directive comes as the Ondo State Government seeks to reposition its forest reserves as productive economic assets while addressing criminal activities allegedly taking place in the areas.

The administration is expected to work with security agencies as part of efforts to enforce the directive and improve safety within the forests.

The Ogun State Police Command has recovered a stolen 2016 Toyota Camry from a hotel in Ifo and arrested one suspect, less than eight hours after the vehicle was reported missing.

The vehicle, belonging to an Indian national operating from the Ilupeju Industrial Estate in Lagos, was allegedly stolen on September 9, 2026, by the owner’s newly employed driver, identified as Waidi Olaide Kolawale.

The command disclosed this in a statement shared on its official X account on Sunday, saying Kolawale had only been employed two days before the incident.

According to the police, the suspect told his employer that he was taking the vehicle to a nearby vulcaniser to repair a faulty tyre but allegedly absconded with the car.

After the theft was reported, the vehicle was electronically tracked to the Ifo axis of Ogun State. The information was subsequently relayed to the Divisional Police Officer of Ifo Division, CSP Kamorudeen Olabisi, who immediately deployed surveillance and anti-robbery operatives to locate the vehicle.

The police said the operatives followed the vehicle through several locations before eventually locating it at a hotel in Ifo at about 8:30pm.

The command said Kolawale fled on sighting the police, allegedly escaping with the vehicle’s ignition key, while his suspected accomplice, identified as Monday Adetunji, was arrested at the scene.

“On sighting the police, Kolawale allegedly fled with the ignition key, while his alleged accomplice, Monday Adetunji, was arrested at the scene,” the statement said.

Preliminary investigation, according to the command, revealed that the suspects had allegedly approached a mechanic with the intention of removing the vehicle’s catalyst.

However, the mechanic reportedly declined to carry out the job.

The recovered Toyota Camry has since been secured by the police, while efforts are ongoing to arrest Kolawale and determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged theft.

The Ogun State Police Command described the swift recovery as an indication of its “proactive, technology-driven and intelligence-led approach to policing.”

It also stressed the importance of promptly reporting criminal incidents, noting that early reporting and coordinated police action could help prevent criminals from establishing what it described as a “safe operating space.”

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ifo Division operatives for their professionalism, vigilance and quick response to the incident.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and ensuring that those involved in criminal activities are brought to justice.

The police further advised vehicle owners to install reliable tracking devices and adopt additional anti-theft measures such as steering locks and tyre locks.

Members of the public were also urged to exercise caution when entrusting vehicles, property and access to their homes or businesses to other people.

“Trust should be accompanied by due diligence,” the command advised.

The police equally urged hotel operators to strengthen their guest and vehicle verification procedures, maintain accurate records and promptly report suspicious individuals, vehicles or activities within their premises.

The command called on residents to assist security agencies by reporting suspicious activities through the Gateway Shield Toll-Free Line on 0800 000 9111, or via 09164859299 and 09154293464.

The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspects and recovered two pump-action guns, 18 live cartridges and other dangerous items during separate intelligence-led operations in the state.

The operations were carried out by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit and the Command Anti-Cult Unit in Obiaruku and Isupe Community, both in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, in Asaba.

According to the statement, operatives of the VCRU stormed a residence in Obiaruku on September 12, 2026, following credible intelligence that the occupant was allegedly in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Joel Iwomi of Umuebu, Obiaruku.

The command said Iwomi resisted the operatives’ attempt to gain access to his residence but was eventually subdued as the officers entered the premises and conducted a search.

During the search, the operatives reportedly recovered one pump-action gun and 18 live cartridges.

The suspect was subsequently arrested and taken into police custody as investigation into the source and intended use of the firearm and ammunition continued.

In a separate operation carried out on September 9, operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit arrested another suspect, Chukwuka Nzete, popularly known as “Ododo,” in Isupe Community, Ndokwa West Local Government Area.

The police said Nzete was suspected of involvement in the illegal sale and proliferation of firearms.

He was also allegedly operating a shrine where suspected criminal elements were fortified.

A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of another pump-action gun, four dagger knives, a battle axe and pots containing substances suspected to be charms.

The command said Nzete was taken into custody, while investigators were working to establish the full extent of his alleged activities and determine whether he had links with other criminal elements.

The recoveries from the two operations bring the number of pump-action guns seized in the reported operations to two, alongside 18 live cartridges and other weapons and items allegedly connected to criminal activities.

Reacting to the arrests and recoveries, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to denying criminal elements access to illicit firearms and other weapons capable of threatening public safety.

Erale urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly provide the police with credible information about suspicious individuals, illegal firearms and criminal activities in their communities.

The commissioner assured members of the public that actionable information provided to the police would be treated confidentially.

The Delta State Police Command said investigation into both cases was ongoing.