TheCable

Operatives of the Ondo command of the south-west security network, also known as Amotekun, have intercepted a bus carrying 18 persons suspected to be bandits.

Adetunji Adeleye, the Ondo commander of Amotekun corps, said three buses escaped from different checkpoints before one of the buses was intercepted in Ondo town.

According to him, “500 daggers and different sizes of knives and guns” were found hidden inside the bus.

Adeleye also said two other buses escaped.

Ondo has witnessed an increase in attacks by gunmen in recent times, with several persons abducted.

The development comes days after two pupils were abducted in Akure, the Ondo capital, while waiting in their mother’s car upon returning from school.

In September, travellers who were on their way to Lagos were abducted by gunmen at Idoani-Ifira axis of Ondo state — they were later rescued.

In another development, 45 youths who said they had come from the northern region for a training in Ondo were arrested in front of a military barracks in the state.

However, Adeleye had said upon interrogation, it was discovered that the youths, who hailed from Kano and Jigawa states, were brought to the town for employment by a non-profit organisation for purported security training.

At the time, the Ondo government had also said it would ensure that the youths were safely returned to their states.

See photos of the weapons, said to have been recovered from the suspects, below.