Amotekun Foils Kidnap, Robbery Attempts in Ondo, Parades 36 Suspected Criminals

• Oyebanji orders forest guards to flush out criminals from Ekiti

Fidelis David in Akure and  Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun have foiled attempts to rob three commercial banks and kidnap a managing director (MD) of a popular supermarket in the state.

On the other hand, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun  Oyebanji, has directed the newly recruited Forest Guards in the state to synregise with security agencies to flush out kidnappers and other criminals that are using Ekiti forests as hideouts and inflicting terror on the citizens.

 The Commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, who disclosed this yesterday while parading 36 other suspected criminals for various offences committed within the month, said the mastermind of the attempts has been arrested while they are on the trail of six of the suspects who have escaped from the state.

According to him, a seven-man operative came all the way from Sapele, Delta State for the purpose of kidnapping, and robbing a bank in Irele Local Government, stressing that six of the suspects escaped but the leader of the gang who accommodated the suspected robbers has been arrested.

He said: “The gang seven-man operatives came all the way from Sapele, Delta State for the purpose of kidnapping, and robbery of a bank in Irele LGA. Six of them are at large, but we were able to apprehend the mastermind who accommodated the robbers.

“We were equally able to get to the root of the target that they intended to kidnap to give the officers of Amotekun the feeling that it is mere robbery, whereas it was dual operation. The manhunt for the leader who escaped to Delta State is on.

“We are liaising with relevant government  and security authorities to assist us in apprehending this runaway gang. The Intel available to us shows that they intend to rob three banks and kidnap the MD of a supermarket. Investigations showed that they liaised with a staff of the supermarket who declined to join the group.”

According to him, “amongst them are those who specialise in vandalism of critical government  assets. They actually went with a trailer to load pipes meant for World Bank financed water project and successfully offloaded it and our operatives followed them and apprehended them where they offloaded at a different locations.

“This is in furtherance of the determination that our citizens live peacefully in Ondo State. We appeal to the public to continue to support us with timely and actionable information and we pledge to secure lives and properties in conjunction with other security agencies in Ondo State,” Adeleye added

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun  Oyebanji, has directed the newly recruited Forest Guards in the state to synregise with security agencies to flush out kidnappers and other criminals that are using Ekiti forests as hideouts and inflicting terror on the citizens.

Oyebanji gave the directive yesterday at the passing-out parade organised for the Forest Guards as part of activities marking the 2024 International Forests Day with the theme: ‘Forests and Innovation: New Solution for a Better World’, held in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, disclosed that the government recently employed 22 Forest Guards, 18 boundary-men and 10 technicians to strengthen the workforce and be able to tackle rising cases of insecurity, deforestation and other criminal tendencies being displayed by some unscrupulous elements in Ekiti forests.

Being part of the concerted actions being taken to tame criminals that were infesting the forest reserves, the governor stated that 20 hectares of land within the precinct of Ise Forest being used for cultivation of Indian Hemp, was recently discovered and destroyed to safeguard the lives of the citizens.

Oyebanji assured Ekiti citizens that his government has mapped out strategies in partnership with some stakeholders to increase forest potential of Ekiti for improved economy, ecosystem and atmospheric condition that can bring about healthy living and prolonged life expectancy of the people.

According to him, “Our government has been working tirelessly to ensure that forest estate is totally free from kidnappers and other evil perpetrators like illegal tree fellers, who are destroying our economic trees.

“To this end, this administration recently recruited 22 Foresters, 18 boundary men and 10 technicians to strengthen the workforce with a view to working with other security agencies to combat and flush criminals out of our forest reserves. The passing-out parade of these officers is being held today.

“Since the inception of this administration, there has been yearly distribution of seedlings to farmers for improved afforestation, which will in return prevent top soil erosion, flood and landslide mitigation, shelter for wildlife and increased sources of wood products and to serve as barriers against windstorms, so that the forests can contribute optimally to economic growth.

“You are all aware that the rainy season is fast approaching, there is need for every household to start planting trees to prevent destruction of lives and property. If this act is embraced, it will serve as beautification of our environment, reduce carbon emission, and produce fresh air, which will enhance good health condition.”

Oyebanji pledged that his administration would equip the workforce of the commission to be able to deliver on the mandate of helping to improve the Internally Generated Revenue of the state  geometrically.

Lending credence to the fact that Oyebanji’s government was ready to  invest huge resources to keep the forest reserves in good shape, the Commissioner for Environment, Mrs. Tosin Ajisafe- Aluko, said a total of two million tree seedlings would be planted in 2024 to shore up the state’s forest potential.

Aluko stated that the government would contrive many innovations to improve afforestation and make Ekiti viable in the sector to return Ekiti to the old good days, when forestry contributed to the growth of the economy.

In his submission, the Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Forestry Commission, Mr. Sunday Adekunle disclosed that  the government is currently nursing 60,000 seedlings of various species at Erunfun Nursery that would be sold to interested members of the public to boost plantation agriculture.

Adekunle assured the state that government would also partner all relevant agencies to tackle forest desertification, pursue robust forest regeneration policy  and propel efficient monitoring of all forests to contribute to the atmospheric and economic development of the state.

The occasion also featured mounting of the Guard of honour by men and officers of the Forest Guards.

Present at the occasion were Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, lawmaker representing Ilejemeje Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. iyabo Okeimen, her counterpart from Ikere constituency 2, Hon Tunde Idowu and  Southwest constituency 1, Hon. Anthony Adaramodu, as well as the  Head of Service, Sunday Komolafe,

Others were: The  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Babatunde Alokan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Mrs Olomojobi, Permanent  Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, and Technical Adviser on Green Economy and Environment Matters, Dr. Akinyemi Akinyugha, among others.