Amotekun Impounds 50 Vehicles in Ondo, Refutes Allegation of Brutality

Fidelis David in Akure

Men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed ‘Amotekun’ have accosted 50 vehicles over failure to comply with the state government’s decision on ban on the use of tinted glass and vehicles without registration across major roads in the state.

The state commander of the agency, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, stated this while briefing journalists yesterday in Akure, the state capital, refuting allegation that the officials of the agency have resulted to searching and confiscating the mobile phones of youths in the state, particularly in Akure the state capital.

He also denied allegation of rising spate of brutality, harassment, among the Amotekun corps in the state, noting that its officials upholds the professional ethics of discharging their duties professionally without resorting to intimidation of innocent and law-abiding citizens.

He said: “We have begun 24 hour surveillance across roads in Ondo State. Recall that two weeks ago a three year-old girl was kidnapped in Akure. It took us enough time and energy that would have been saved to trace the movement of the hoodlums because the Mercedes Benz used in kidnapping the girl was tinted and unregistered.”

The Amotekun commander explained that virtually all criminal activities in the state are being perpetrate with the use of unregistered, covered and tinted vehicles, hence the decision of the state government to swing into action by impounding them.

“Again, majority of these criminal activities are also being carried out using motorcycles especially in the evenings. To this end, the state government directed all security agencies in the state to work together to ensure that after the deadline, whoever uses a dark tinted glass must carry a police permit.

“Furthermore, the use of unregistered vehicles on roads, which makes it difficult to track down criminals, is also banned. I don’t see any reason why you buy a car and chose to use it without being registered for between one to three years, without a hidden motive.

“We received intelligence report that bandits and criminals are trying to carry out nefarious activities in the state. We hinted the general public about it two weeks ago to be very vigilant. This information became more credible when we heard that some of the places mentioned in the intelligence report, armed robbers have actually struck.”

Adeleye added that the strategy is part of the state government’s quest to ensure adequate security of lives and property in the state, stressing that all impounded vehicles must first register and obtain glass tinted permit from relevant government’s agency and the police before they would be released to owners.