By: Ade Adeleke
Men of the Nigerian Army, 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure and men of the Amotekun Corps with other Security agencies have bursted hideouts of kidnappers and other suspected criminal elements in Ondo State during the just concluded Eld-el-fitri celebration holidays.
The ongoing operations that will last for one week have started yielding positive results even as 37 suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and other suspected criminals were apprehended at different locations in the State.
The Ondo State Commander of Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye made this known while parading the suspects to newsmen at the Corps Headquarters in Akure on tuesday.
Akogun Adeleye said, the patrol which was held simultaneously across the state, was part of efforts put in place by the state government to ensure a crime-free Eid-El-Fitri celebration.
According to him, the patrol which started since Friday last week, will continue till Thursday to make it a full week exercise to rid the society the Ondo and the environs of criminal elements.
“In the last five days, we have been able to harvest a number of criminals ranging from Armed robbers, suspected kidnappers, fraudsters, “Yahoo yahoo” boys and those that are engaged in nefarious activities.
“I want to commend men of the Nigeria Army from the 32 Artillery Brigade for their huge support likewise the Nigeria Police force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and of course, the Department of State Service (DSS) for their support towards ensuring that the holiday was crime free.
Akogun Adeleye who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters, hinted, that during the operation, they busted a number of criminal activities such as kidnapping at the border town of Ondo state.
“As a result of the intense pressure we mounted on the Kidnappers, they were compelled to to release the victim and as at now, we don’t have any Kidnapped victim in the State.
“With Intelligence, we are able to follow grassroots intelligent report to clamp down on their hideouts and we will continue to do that inline with the policy of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu.
“You will agree with me that he places a lot of premium on the security of lives and properties of residents in the state. Residents, commuters and business owners in the state are testifying, that the atmosphere is clear for smooth transactions.
“And for farmers, we want you to go back to your farms and we assure you of your safety. We also enjoin you to give us timely information to work with once you see suspected movement around.
“I also want to assure members of the public that the law will take its full course on all that are found to be culpable.
He, however, reiterated the smooth working relationship existing between the Army and the Amotekun Corps.
“We don’t have any problem with the Army, they are playing the roles they are supposed to play in curbing crime in Ondo State and I tell you, that the Army and other security agencies have been actively involved in most of the major successful operations that are going on in the state”, Akogun Adeleye said.
