Amotekun arrests 70 suspects as Ondo bans use of motorcycles

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, on Wednesday, said it had arrested 70 suspects within a week across the State, including 18 alleged kidnappers, as part of intensified operations aimed at curbing criminal activities in the State.

Adetunji Adeleye, the Commander of Amotekun in the state, who disclosed this while parading the suspects at the corps headquarters in Akure explained that the suspects were arrested for a range of offences including kidnapping, human trafficking, violation of anti-grazing regulations, and other criminal activities threatening public peace.

According to him, the suspects were picked up during coordinated security operations conducted across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State, as the Corps intensified its crackdown on criminal elements operating within forests and urban communities.

“Today, I am parading 70 suspects. Out of these 70, 39 were arrested for breaking law and order, while 18 are suspected kidnappers arrested across the state. We also have one suspect linked to anti-grazing violations, one for human trafficking, and 11 arrested on court-related cases.

“In addition to this, the government of Ondo States had decided that in order to checkmate the nefarious activities of kidnappers, hand-robbers, and criminals within the state, there will be a restriction to the use of motorbikes or Okada from 7pm to 6am.

“The restriction had been enforced before, but it has been further reinforced that there will be total ban on the use of Okada within Ondo States from 7pm to 6am apart from essential services, are banned. This comes into effect with immediate effect, and all Okada riders have two weeks to register and collect certified documents of eligibility to use Okada within Ondo States within two weeks.

“After two weeks, they will be made to pay to the Board of Internal Revenue, a sum of 20,000 naira for registration. But for the next two weeks from now, it’s going to be free. We want all Okada riders properly documented.

“In the same way, cart pushing in major metropolises is banned. Mandatory registration of gears and regulation of activities of scrap metal is going to be enforced, and prohibition of display of farm produce in unauthorised places. If you look around the town now, you find out people making makeshift markets at junctions where they put tomatoes, fruits, onions, and wares like that. These places are being used as monitoring points of the metropolis, and this has been uncovered by the intelligence section of the security agencies.

“I also want to place it on record that the strong synergy that exists in the joint operation being done by all security agencies in Ondo State, especially the police, the Civil Defence, the Army, the DSS, and Amotekun is equally yielding very good result.

“Only last week, two major black spots were raided, and we raided about 99 suspects. Today, the Ondo State Security Network Agency has been able to arrest 70 suspects across the state in all the 18 local governments.

“The details of all those arrested, 18 of them are suspected kidnappers, to whom over 75 of them, the victims had identified them. And we are interrogating all the others. All of them will eventually be profiled. They had already been profiled after investigation. Courts of competent jurisdiction will handle their matters.

“The numbers of Amotekun members are very high. I want to place it on record that the injection of the additional men into the existing Amotekun members actually made it easy for us. You can see within one week, we were able to arrest 70 criminals and most of the time, they are domiciled in the forest. So we don’t want a situation where they are all driven back into the town.

“So both forest and town are being manned and the morale of Amotekun members across board is at its highest peak. And we are resolute at combating all forms of criminality. We are also resolute at ensuring that we improve the security architecture of the state. As a matter of fact, if you look at the neighbouring states around, and the pockets of criminalities we have in Ondo State, Ondo State still remains one of the safest states in the Southwest.

“We are going after the collaborators of these criminals, and I want to tell you that most of what you’ve seen in recent times on Facebook and faceless people talking, they are actually sponsored by detractors and the people who felt they could distract security agents from pursuing them. And as a matter of fact, I want to put it on record that by the directive of the governor of Ondo State and pursuant to the relevant laws and public safety regulations of Ondo State, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, I’m a technical, thereby notifies the general public of the following security measures and regulatory directives currently in force within the State.

“These measures are aimed at strengthening security, maintaining public order, and protecting lives and property across Ondo State. Members of the public are therefore required to take note of and comply with the following directives. One, restriction on the use of motorcycles at night. The operational use of motorcycles within Ondo State is prohibited between the hours of 7pm and 6am. This restriction shall apply across the state except for security agencies and other persons of category specifically exempted by the government.

“Furthermore, all motorcycle users and operators within the state shall register and obtain the requisite certification from the Ondo State Security Network Agency either at the headquarters of the Corps or the various local government command of the Corps. Any person who fails to comply with this registration requirement shall be deemed to be operating unlawfully within the state.

“Number two, prohibition of cart pushing in major metropolises. The activities of cart pushes within major metropolises across Ondo State are hereby prohibited. This measure is intended to promote public safety, ensure better traffic management, and maintain environmental order within urban centres.

“Number three, mandatory registrations of dealers in condemned iron scrap metals. All persons and businesses dealing in condemned iron scraps or related metallic materials within Ondo State are hereby directed to register with the Ondo State government within two weeks from the date of this announcement, that is today. Failure to comply with this directive within the stipulated period may result in appropriate enforcement actions in accordance with the law.

“Number four, prohibition of display of farm produce in unauthorised places. The display or sale of farm produce in any place other than approved market is hereby prohibited.

“The Ondo State Security Network Agency, in collaboration with other security agencies, operating within the state has been directed and mandated to ensure strict enforcement of these directive. Residents are therefore advised to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities and comply with these directives in the interest of peace, security and orderly development of the state. The government of Ondo State appreciates the continued cooperation and understanding of all residents.”