Ondo Amotekun Launches ‘Operation Safe-ground’, Parades 48 Suspected Criminals

Fidelis David in Akure

The Ondo State Security Network Agency codename Amotekun yesterday launched another initiative tagged: ‘Operation Safe-ground’, to rid the state of crimes.

The state Commander of the corps, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, who flagged off the initiative at its headquarters in Akure while parading 48 suspected criminals arrested across the state, said the operation was launched in accordance with the directive of the state Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to further flush out criminal elements from the coastal state.

Adeleye said ‘Operation Safe-ground’ would further give confidence to the people that they are well secure in their respective localities.

According to him, “We observed that in the main cities, miscreants and criminals are taking over. We equally observed that on Sundays, and when people go to work, these miscreants bugle their houses and make away with their valuables.

“The complaints became unbearable in the last three weeks. and that was what prompted the governor to direct that ‘Operation Safe-ground’ be launched today.

“The importance of ‘Operation Safe-ground’ is a resurgence of how we started. I want you to recall that the security situation of the state was at a sorry state about three years ago, and by the grace of God and the support of the government and the good people of the state, we were able to bring it to a reasonable level, where people can do their businesses without being molested, and sleep with their two eyes closed.”

He added that in recent time, “these miscreants have taken over the town again. I agree that we drove them out of the forest and we will continue to drive them out of the forest. However, the governor has directed that we flush them out completely from the state and that is why we are launching ‘Operation Safe-ground’.

“To the residents of Akure and major towns in the state, you will start observing like before, control points and security points in virtually every streets in the state to curtail these nefarious activities of these vandals, who in this hard times disposes people of their valuables.”

Adeleye noted that another alarming situation is the trend whereby unsuspecting motorcyclists are hit from the back, dispossessed of their bikes and some of them killed.

“To this end, we want to advise the good people of Ondo State that once you see an Okada with face mask, that you can only see his eyes, stop patronising them. Again, to those that have permanent Okada riders that pick them, please don’t do that in the night again because they take undue advantage, at times to rape or kill their commuters,” he warned.

On the suspects paraded, the Amotekun commander explained that they were arrested for offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, cultism stealing of cocoa beans among others.

“Today, we have a cross-section of criminals arrested across the state. We have 48 suspected criminals and all of them had confessed to the various crimes. We have a gang of three (Audu Michael, Anthony Emmanuel, Samuel Uche) who were found to be in possession of firearms and these are the things they use in attacking innocent citizens of Akure.

“In Isua-Akoko and Akure, we have a very serious issue at hand. We found out that so many transformers have been stolen. So many cables servicing the transformers had been cut and taken away, and landlords associations are being made to pay at a very high cost for all these. However, Amotekun has been able to break that terrible incidences.

“We were able to arrest about three different groups and these groups sell the products of these bad and nefarious activities to a particular person who is at large, but the law will still catch up with him,” he stated.

Meanwhile, in view of the forthcoming ed-el Kabir celebration, Adeleye added that  “Amotekun, as from tomorrow, will deploy 1,000 men across the state, especially at the borders, prayer grounds, markets and other places to guarantee safety of lives and prosperity.”