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AKURE, ONDO STATE

The Ondo State Police Command has foiled a planned bomb attack on government infrastructure in Akure, arresting six individuals suspected of being part of a terrorist cell that had recently infiltrated the state capital. The arrests were confirmed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer for Ondo State, Funmilayo Odunlami, in the early hours of Friday, April 18, 2026.

According to the police statement, the operation was the culmination of weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering by operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department. The suspects, whose identities have been withheld pending further investigation, were apprehended at a rented apartment in the Oke-Aro area of Akure, where they had allegedly established a temporary operational base.

A search of the premises yielded materials described by investigators as consistent with the fabrication of improvised explosive devices. Items recovered include several gallons of liquid chemicals believed to be precursors for explosives, detonator cords, timing devices, and mobile phones containing communication records currently being analysed by forensic experts.

"The suspects had conducted reconnaissance on multiple government facilities and were in the advanced stages of executing a coordinated attack," a senior security source told Prime Brief Media on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation. "Their infiltration of the state capital was methodical, but our operatives were able to disrupt the plot before any harm could be done."

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladipo, commended the operatives for their professionalism and urged residents to remain vigilant. "This Command will not relent in its efforts to ensure the safety and security of all citizens," the commissioner stated. "We encourage members of the public to report any suspicious activities or unfamiliar faces in their neighbourhoods to the nearest police station."

The arrests come amid heightened security consciousness across the South-West geopolitical zone, following intermittent reports of attempts by armed groups to establish footholds in forest reserves and border communities. Security analysts note that the foiled Akure plot underscores the evolving nature of asymmetric threats facing states previously considered peripheral to the primary theatre of insurgency in the North-East.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State is expected to convene an emergency meeting of the State Security Council later today to review the incident and assess the readiness of security agencies to respond to any further threats.

The suspects remain in police custody and are assisting with ongoing investigations. Authorities say they will be charged to court upon the conclusion of forensic examinations and the filing of formal charges by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Prime Brief Media will continue to monitor the security situation in Ondo State and provide updates as more information becomes available.