In a major fight against kidnapping in the state, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, on Monday announced the arrest of 27 people in connection with various criminal activities across the state.
The arrest of the suspects was announced by the Commander of the Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, at the headquarters of the command in the state capital Akure. It was explained that the suspects were arrested for crimes relating to kidnapping, stealing, killing and burglary, among others. The suspects were reportedly arrested in operations carried out in the state over the past three weeks.
The commander of the corps announced the identity of some of the suspects as Usman Sehu, Ojo, Temidayo and Pelemo, who he said had been in the act of kidnapping in the state with some other individuals around the Ikakumo Akoko. He also noted that another suspect was arrested by the operatives named Michael Ojo, who was among the syndicates that specialize in killing okada riders and stealing their bike. It was noted that the suspect, after interrogation, confessed to lost count of the motorcycles that he had collected from people in the state.
He also disclosed that the command arrested one Oladimeji and one Imole; according to him, the individuals had been in the act of stealing motorcycles in the state. Another suspected suspect was named Akerele Ibrahim. It was noted that the suspect had been being tracked by the operatives in the state for a long time now. He has been a threat in the community in the past years he had recently threatened to kill an individual after destroying his farmland in the Akoko area.
Some individuals were also arrested for the violation of the anti-open grazing in the state; he noted that one Wakini Ibrahim has been arrested several times, and since he has failed to repent the suspect will now face the law according to the stipulations of the anti-grazing charges.
The commander also announced the arrest of other individuals who had been in the act of breaking into shops that engage in the sales of mattresses, stealing and selling them at cheap amounts to people. He disclosed that the suspects were arrested and mattresses were recovered from the individuals that bought them. He noted the criminals were selling a product of N100,000 for as low as N5000 or N10000.
While commenting in the security situation in the state the commander noted that the despite security breaches in the state, the security situation of the state was relatively good as suspects were arrested based on only three subheadings out of the 12 subheadings the corps operates on.
He noted that there was no arrest made on pending enforcement, land issues, labour union, human trafficking, student affairs or cultism among others. This shows that Ondo State is experiencing peace.
The commander lauded the residents of the state, for their swift efforts in giving the corps timely information. The Amotekun boss further appealed to the people to continue to support the corps to curb the state of all illegal activities.