Adetunji Adeleye, the Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, on Wednesday, said the corps under his watch has prosecuted no fewer than 600 suspects for various offences between January and June 2024.
According to him, those arrested and prosecuted included suspected kidnappers, banditry, armed robbers, human traffickers, illicit drug dealers, house breakers, thugs and others.
Adeleye, while parading about 48 suspects arrested for various offences during the ongoing ‘Operation ‘Safe-ground’, at the headquarters of the corps, Alagbaka Akure said: “The signals we are sending to criminals is that Ondo State is not a place where they can stay. We want them to know that even as a kidnapper, once you kidnap, you can’t get away with it. If you steal cars, you can’t get away with it. If you break houses, we’ll pick you. So, what is the point of doing what you know you won’t get away with?”.
The Amotekun boss said; “the uniqueness of today’s parade is because the criminal activities spread across kidnapping, stealing of cows, attempted murder, fraud and illegal counterfeiting of money, cultism, illegal migration and stealing of planks, burglary, arson, anti-grazing activities and vandalisation of critical government assets.
“Men of Amotekun corps had assured the Muslim faithful that we would put everything in place to ensure that the festive period goes on fine without security breaches.
“During this period, in the last week, a Toyota and Lexus car was stolen on different occasions in Owo. We trailed, tracked and traced it from Owo to Igbara-Oke where we were able to apprehend the vehicle.
“We equally responded to the distress call in Owo at midnight Wednesday where a car was stolen and within 30 minutes, we were able to recover the vehicle and we are on the trail of the robbers.
“Within this period, we broke a syndicate that specialises in vandalizing transformers. You can see, across there some of the coils retrieved from the transformers where they dissected and brought out the coils. The other suspects in this case have left the state, we are on their trail.
“Equally, there is this syndicate that specialises in what is called ‘One-Chance’ in local parlance. Unsuspecting commuters will board their vehicles, they will get midway, rob them, dispose of their valuables and make away with it.
“So, we were able to put some of our men in one of the vehicles and as we talk today, out of the ten vehicles they use, we were able to retrieve three and the kingpin of the criminal activities has been arrested and is here on parade.
“They have a herbalist that deceives them by telling customers of theirs that they can produce dollars for them, but you can see that they are counterfeit dollars. So, they collected naira from them in exchange for counterfeit dollars. So, we were able to break their cartel and you can see the pots and charms they use in hypnotising their customers.
“So, all they need to tell the victims is to go home and bring all their valuables for these counterfeit dollars. As I said, we have 48 suspects today and all of these suspects have been profiled and will be taken to the next level which is the appropriate court of law to try their cases and those that are found wanting will be sent to the correctional home.
We’re telling you criminals in the state to get out of Ondo State. And to the good people of Ondo State, we want to reassure you that the government of Lucky Aiyedatiwa is resolute in making the state conducive for businesses, social activities and all that makes the state a good one to stay.
“Kidnapping in Ondo state has gone down by 90 percent and the remaining 10 percent, we only have them in the boarders, the extreme. But in all of these few occasions, we ensure that we rescue the victims and the suspects are made to face the music.”
