By: Our Reporter
The Ondo state security network, codenamed Amotekun Corps has intercepted some trucks loaded with suspected bandits with dangerous weapons from entering the state from the northern parts of the country.
Consequently, the security agency apprehended one hundred and forty-nine suspects in the operations that took place in three local government areas of the state.
The Ondo state Commander of Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye disclosed to newsmen while while parading the suspects in Akure.
According to Akogun Adeleye, the agency has been monitoring heavy influx of strange faces in the last couple of weeks within and around forest reserves and other parts of the Ondo State territory.
The Amotekun Commander who said another set of 31 suspected criminals were arrested two weeks ago, disclosed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had directed that buses carrying pupils in the state must be protected and placed on serious surveillance.
According to him, “A couple of weeks ago, we started having very heavy influx of strange people within our forest reserve areas and within the Ondo State territory.
“Majority of these people who claimed that they were coming into the state as hunters, were arrested around the black spots where we have robbery operations and kidnapping in the local governments where they were nabbed.
“They surprisingly and carefully concealed and kept their weapons, bags of Indian hemps and cutlasses under their vehicles and they claimed that they are coming from the various part of the country.
He added, that the arrested 149 suspects have been profiled, while some of them are still being questioned.
“The pertinent questions we are asking them, is that is “why are they hiding their guns”?
“If they are genuine hunters, why not come out openly, but one begins to wonder why they would come from the extreme parts of the country to hunt in a village, in a forest they have never been to before in Ondo state?
“No doubt, as Nigerians, they have the right to go to anywhere in the country, but they do not have the right to go with weapons.
” As hunters, we had expected that they would have made consultations to find out their limitations.
“In Ondo State Forestry reserves, the government is very clear, that if you are a hunter and wants to go into the forest, you have to register, so that government, the kings and the hunters will know that you are there.
“However, “We want to appeal to commuters, that if you have any reason to do your legitimate business in Ondo State, please consult the relevant agencies and to our Baales, the Kabiyesis and the good people of the State, we can no longer tolerate this kind of people without mission, entering our forest areas,” Adeleye said.
