The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps has arrested no fewer than 27 people in connection with various criminal activities across the state.
According to the corps, the suspects were involved in alleged crimes such as kidnapping, stealing, killing and burglary among others.
Parading the suspects in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, the Commander of the corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the suspects were apprehended within three weeks.
Adeleye said, “Today, we are parading 27 suspects. Among the 27 suspects, we have Usman Sehu, Ojo, Temidayo and Pelemo. They were the people who had been joining their colleagues in kidnappings around Ikakumo Akoko. We also have one Michael Ojo, who was among the syndicate that specialises in killing okada riders and stealing their bike. He had confessed to stealing so many motorcycles and said he had lost count.
“Furthermore, we have one Oladimeji and one Imole, who steal where you park your bike. We have one Akerele Ibrahim, also a suspected criminal who had been under tracking for some time but this time around, he went and threatened to kill somebody having destroyed his farmland in the Akoko area too.
“On anti-grazing, we have one Wakini Ibrahim who had been arrested several times and since he is not repentant, he will face the full wrath of the law on anti-grazing charges. This is the cross-section of the suspected criminals engaged in various security breaches.
“We also have those who specialise in breaking shops who engage in the sales of mattresses, stole and sold them at cheap amounts to people. We went after them and retrieved the mattresses from those who bought them. When a mattress that should normally go for N100,000 is being sold for N5,000 or N10,000.”
Speaking on the security situation of the state, Adeleye noted that despite security breaches in some places, the security situation was relatively good as suspects were arrested based on three subheadings out of the 12 subheadings the corps operates on.
“Across the board, I want to say that despite pockets of security breaches, the security situation of the state is good. Out of the 12 subheadings under which we operate, we only have suspects in anti-grazing, kidnapping and law and order. There was no arrest made on pending enforcement, land issues, labour union, human trafficking, student affairs, and cultism among others. This shows that Ondo State is experiencing peace,” he noted.
Adeleye lauded the residents of the state for always giving the corps timely information. The Amotekun boss also appealed to the people to continue to support the corps.
