The Ondo State Security Network Agency codename Amotekun, on Monday launched another initiative tagged ‘Operation Safe-ground’ to rid the state of crimes.
The state Commander of the corps, Mr Adetunji Adeleye who flagged off the initiative at it’s headquarters in Akure while parading 48 suspected criminals arrested across the state said the operation was launch in accordance with the directive of the state governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa to further flush out criminal elements from the coastal state.
Adeleye said ‘Operation Safe-ground’will further further give confidence to the people that they are well secured in their respective localities.
His words: “We observed that in the main cities, miscreants and criminals are taking over. We equally observed that on Sundays and when people go to work, these miscreants bugle their houses and make away with their valuables.
“The complain became unbearable in the last three weeks and this was what prompted the governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to direct that ‘Operation Safe-ground’ be commissioned today.
“The importance of ‘Operation Safe-ground’ is a resurgence of how we started. I want you to recall that the security situation of the state was at a sorry state about three years ago and by the grace of God and the support of the government and the good people of the state, we were able to bring it to a reasonable level, where people can do their businesses without being molested and sleep with their two eyes closed.”
According to him, In recent time, these miscreants have taken over the town again. I agree that we drove them out of the forest and we will continue to drive them out of the forest. However, the executive governor of Ondo State has directed that we flush them out completely from the state and that is why we are launching ‘Operation Safe-ground’ .
“To the residents of Akure and major towns in the state, you will start observing like before, control points and security points in virtually every streets in the state to curtail these nefarious activities of these vandals, who in this hard times disposes people of their valuables.”
He noted that, another alarming situation is the trend whereby unsuspecting motorcyclists are hit from the back, dispossessed of their bikes and some of them killed.
“To this end, we want to advise the good people of Ondo State that once you see an Okada with face mask, that you can only see his eyes, stop patronizing them. Again, to those that have permanent Okada riders that pick them, please don’t do that in the night again because they take undue advantage, at times rape, or kill their commuters.”
On the suspects paraded, the Amotekun commander explained that they were arrested for offences ranging from Kidnapping, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, cultism stealing of cocoa beans amongst others.
“Today, we have a cross section of criminals arrested across the state. We have 48 suspected criminals and all of them had confessed to the various crimes. We have a gang of three (Audu Michael, Anthony Emmanuel, Samuel Uche) who were found to be in possession of firearms and these are the things they use in attacking innocent citizens of Akure.
“In Isua-Akoko and Akure, we have a very serious issue at hand. We found out that so many transformers have been stolen. So many cables servicing the transformers had been cut and taken away and landlords associations are being made to pay at very high cost for all these. However, Amotekun has been able to break that terrible incidences.
“We were able to arrest about three different groups and these groups sell the products of these bad and nefarious activities to a particular person who is at large but the law will still catch up with him.”
Adeleye stressed that another set of suspects (Ikechukwu Nwoke, Adewuyi Lekan, Adewole Sola) are those who directly or indirectly have connection with vandalisation of power projects, critical government assets
“We also have a non-repentant kidnaper. Right here, we have victims of his nefarious acts who were able to identify him. Even one of them said, he was the one who collected ransom from him. But, somehow, he was arrested but found his way out. However, this time around, the full wrath of the law has caught up with him.
“We equally have those that specialises in uprooting cable from buildings under completion and uncompleted buildings where electrical installations are done.
“We also found out that these cables are burnt, the wires removed and sold this godfather of criminals called Abubakar Ahmed who is at large. We have those that were arrested for going against the anti-open grazing law.
Meanwhile, in view of the forthcoming Eld-el-kabir celebration, Adeleye added that “Amotekun, as from tomorrow, will deploy 1,000 men across the state, especially at the borders, prayer grounds, markets and other to guarantee safety of lives and prosperities.”
