Ondo Amotekun Nabs 22 Suspected Criminals, Deploys 1,200 Officers ahead of Yuletide

Fidelis David in Akure

Ahead of the Yuletide season, the Ondo State Security Network Agency codename Amotekun yesterday said it deployed 1,200 personnel to check criminal activities across the 18 local government areas of the state.

This is just as the corps said it has commenced 24-hour border patrol in the neighbouring states of Osun, Edo and Kogi, and would be in place throughout the festive season.

The state Commander of the Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, stated this yesterday while parading 22 suspected criminals arrested by the agency within 14 days.

According to him, “We are parading 22 suspects that were arrested across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State within the last 14 days. Across the board, we have three suspects arrested for kidnapping, those that broke down law and order are 19, and two arrested for suspected robbery.

“We have one suspect for burglary and stealing of household items; two suspects for burglary and stealing of electronics.” 

“On conspiracy, burglary and stealing, we have three. We have four for breaking and entry of houses. Stealing of copper wire, motorcycle, sewing machine, and cables have five suspects.”

Equally, Adeleye said the corps arrested a syndicate that vandalises electrical installations and transformers, and another group that engages in stealing of gasoline pump, car tire, and batteries.

He said: “So we have Sule, Gende, and Lido as suspects for kidnapping. We have Ibukun Akintan for suspected robbery. Rotimi Bidemi, Ojo, Ilesanmi for burglary. For stealing of motorcycle, we have Nelson Akinwande.

“For stealing of industrial machine, we have Omolola Opeyemi, for stealing of cables in the medical institution, we have Sunday Ego. Stealing of transformer cable, we have Patrick Emmanuel and we have Ekpa Augustine and Damilola for stealing of pumps and other equipment.”

Adeleye said: “However, we have two kidnap suspects and this is supposed to be a lesson for our people at home. The kidnap actually took place in a rubber estate in Edo State and tracking brought them to the southern senatorial district of Ondo State. After diligent investigation and tracking, men of the Ondo State security network agency were able to apprehend the primary suspect and the soft targets here with us today.

“But before then, some other suspects had been arrested by men of the state security services of Edo State. Rather than waste time on their prosecution in Ondo State and in the spirit of collaboration, we would release these two suspects to the office of the Director of State Security Services of Edo State for them to conclude and complete the trial of those that were apprehended.

“But I want to state that one of the soft targets unknowingly harboured a kidnapped victim for more than a week, and our investigation showed that he might not have been totally bereaved that the man kept in his custody was kidnapped. Please, in this period, be weary of visitors you allow into your privacy. Again, make sure you have relevant papers that cover the sale of second-hand products you purchase.”