Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has disclosed that security operatives recently thwarted an alleged plan to bomb the Ondo State Government House in Akure, describing the operation as one of several quiet successes recorded in the state’s fight against insecurity.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, the governor said the plot was uncovered about three to four months ago after intelligence reports linked a group of youths to suspicious activities targeting the seat of government.
According to Aiyedatiwa, the suspects initially stayed in a hotel before moving to a rented apartment, where security personnel later recovered materials and equipment allegedly intended for the attack.
“Following intelligence reports, the police and Amotekun moved in, raided the location, arrested the suspects, and they remain in custody,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He noted that investigators had yet to determine the exact motive behind the alleged plot but said the incident highlighted the importance of sustained vigilance and intelligence gathering.
The governor stressed that many successful security operations often go unnoticed because threats are neutralised before they materialise.
“So much work is being done. Security is one responsibility that leaders carry that is not so visible to everybody. It is only when there is a lapse that it will look as if the government has not been doing enough. We have been doing so much,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa also said South-West governors were strengthening regional cooperation through intelligence sharing and joint security initiatives, particularly through the regional security outfit, Amotekun Corps.
“What I am saying in essence is that we are talking to ourselves; we are working,” he added.
The governor further welcomed the conviction of four individuals linked to the 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, describing the verdict as a triumph for justice and the rule of law.
“For us in Ondo State, we are happy that this judgment is a victory for the rule of law and for all the victims attacked, not just in Owo, Ondo State, but all who have been attacked at one time or the other by these terrorists,” he said.
The June 5, 2022 attack claimed more than 40 lives and left about 100 worshippers injured.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration had continued to reinforce the state’s security architecture through enhanced intelligence gathering, surveillance and collaboration among the police, Amotekun, the Department of State Services and local communities.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
