The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, has announced the arrest of two persons suspected to be kidnappers who have been alleged to be abductors of four travellers along the Owo/Benin Expressway in the Ose Local Government Area of the state.

It was disclosed that the kidnap incident had happened barely 72 hours after the corps paraded 27 suspected criminals who were arrested across the state in different operations. In the arrest, it was disclosed that the corps had successfully rescued four persons who held hostage by their abductors.

While reacting, the Commander of the Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, during the parade of the suspect at the headquarters of the command at Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, stated that he was the leader of the team of operatives that arrested the suspect. He noted that the team also included some local hunters in the community, which helped in the rescue of the victims.

He noted that the suspects have been terrorising the farmers and other travellers who have been using the Elegbeka/Ifon on the Owo-Benin Expressway. He also alleged that the suspect collected a total of N1.2 million from some victims in August.

The commander explained that the suspects, before their arrest, engaged the operatives in a gun battle. He noted that prior to the arrest, a day before, it was reported that a kidnap incident had happened along a route which is well-known by the operatives in the state. The commander disclosed that when the incident was reported, the operatives were deployed in collaboration with local hunters in the community to comb the forest where the victims were supposed to be held hostage. He disclosed that after the operation, the victims were rescued successfully.

He noted that the operation was a significant outing because of the arrest that was made. He noted that two of the persons arrested were no longer suspected kidnappers but confirmed kidnappers because of their activities that have been known in the state.

He explained that the criminals have been using the tactics of blocking the portion of the road with a vehicle, forcing commuters to slow down and making them vulnerable to ambush. He explained that one of the suspects was known to be one of the persons who had been in the act of extorting commutes and collecting ransom to the tune of N1.2 million from a certain family in August. The suspect was reported to have demanded the pay of N20 million from the families of the abducted persons. But he was arrested before the money was delivered to them.

The commander noted that the arrest had sent a clear message to the state’s criminals that Ondo was not a safe place for them. He expressed his commitment that the command would continue to stay active to prevent all criminal activities in the state.