PRESS RELEASE
War Against Open grazing, Kidnapping: Plot to destroy Ondo Amotekun, Blackmail Commander uncovered
….Powerful Cows Owners, Sister security Agency, Strong Kidnap Syndicates fingered.
We, the members and Leadership of Ondo Youth Progressives Forum, have uncovered a major plot by some state and non state elements to destroy the architecture of the Ondo State Security Network codenamed “Amotekun Corps”, as a result of its determination to enforce anti-open grazing law and tackling kidnapping in the state.
According to our findings, one of the steps to weak and render Amotekun useless is the recent attacks on his officers by some herdsmen at Sango area of Igoba town in Akure North local government area while enforcing anti-open grazing law. Following intervention by some powerful personalities in and outside Ondo State, nobody was arrested and prosecuted for the heinous attacks on Amotekun men where some of them were seriously injured.
It is also on record that two weeks ago, men of the Nigeria Police arrested an Amotekun Officer in Idanre local government who was performing his lawful duties. It took the timely intervention of the State Government before the Amotekun operative was released.
Our findings have also revealed how some powerful cow owners/Herders and two top public office holders have recruited few dismissed/ serving officers of Amotekun Corps with huge financial inducement to be writing frivolous allegations on social media to blackmail and tarnish the image of the Corps and top officers particularly the State Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, who has remained a strong backbone of the State security outfit.
All and sundry can testify to the good work Amotekun Corps has been doing under Akogun Adeleye, since its formation to solely protect human lives and their properties in Ondo State as well as also curb the worrisome rate of kidnapping and farmers/herders clashes that had become endemic in the state.
Some of the recent happenings on the security matters particularly as men of Amotekun Corps are being discouraged with some of these plots to bring down the state security agency. It s a known fact that kidnapping syndicates and leadership of herders are not comfortable with efficiency and effectiveness of Amotekun since its establishment and they are working round the clock to weaken and destroy it.
The Executive Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, prominent Yorubas of good conscience and leaders of Ondo state must not sleep and allow the state and non-elements to destroy Amotekun Corps at this critical time of our history.
We are concerned over the recent reports that killer herders and kidnappers are gradually returning to forest reserves and farms in Ondo state due to lack of synergy among security operatives unlike before.
We therefore call on the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, to do everything within his power to protect Ondo State Amotekun Corps and its top echelon from being unnecessarily distracted, weaken or destroyed by powerful syndicates sponsoring serious and coordinated attacks and propaganda against the state security outfit.
We equally urge Mr Governor to compel the State Commissioner of Police, the Brigade Commander, Director of DSS, Amotekun Commander and other security agencies to immediately mobilize to forests in Ose, Owo local governments and Akoko areas to smoke out kidnappers and killer herdsmen in the state.
Signed:
Comrade Orowole Eniola,
President,
Ondo Youth Progressive Forum.
22nd July, 2024.
