In an effort to combat insecurity, the Ondo State Security Network codenamed “Amotekun Corps”, has arrested 51 suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals at different locations across the state; even as it promised to drag 35 of them to court.
While parading the suspects before newsmen in Akure, the state Commander of the corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said the suspects were arrested for various crimes including kidnapping, breach of law and order, anti-open grazing, rape, human trafficking, among others.
Chief Adeleye noted that among the arrested suspected kidnappers, one had confessed to being involved in five major kidnap operations in the state.
He further added that some of the arrested suspects pretended to be hawkers but were actually informants for kidnappers.
The Amotekun Commander disclosed that out of the 51 arrested suspects, 35 will be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction while the rest will face internal dispute resolution.
He, however, warned criminals to stay off Ondo State, stressing that the corps is committed to ensuring the safety of the good people of the state.
He said, “Today, we are parading 51 suspects arrested in various nooks and crannies and forests of the state. We have 37 suspects arrested for breach of law and order. We have six major kidnap suspects and one case of abuse, which is rape.
”As a result of the activities of the Amotekun Rangers in the forest, we were able to dismantle a terrible kidnap syndicate. One of their armourers happened to be here today that we have arrested, and he has confessed to five major kidnap operations within the state.
”On those that pretend to be hawkers and pick metals, but are actually collaborators and information- gathering agents of kidnappers and robbers, we have a David Abdul, 22, Abdullai, 27, Sani, 22 , Ahmed, 26, Emma, 20, and Dayo.
”On human trafficking, we have one Ibrahim, 42, and we have one Agu Joseph, who are jailbirds that actually escaped from Okitipupa Custodial Center to commit another crime where Amotekun operatives picked him.”
”So, across the board, these 51 suspects have gone through various stages of interrogation, and about 35 of them will be going to a court of competent jurisdiction today, while the others will face the internal dispute resolution method, and if they scale through, we will be able to resolve at that level, otherwise, they will end up at a court of competent jurisdiction.
”With this, what we keep saying, and we are still saying, is that Ondo State is not safe for criminals. Pack your things and go. We have told you the government and the good people of Ondo State are opposed to kidnapping for ransom. Our watchword is to ensure that Ondo State remains safe for investors to thrive and work,” Adeleye said.
