Fidelis David in Akure
Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, have arrested 29 suspected criminals across the 18 local government areas of the state in the last one week.
The state Commander of the agency, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, while parading the suspects at corps headquarters in Akure yesterday, said the suspects were arrested for various alleged offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, theft, among others.
He said: “In the last one week, we were able to arrest 29 suspects that were involved in different forms of security breaches which ranges from kidnapping, armed robbery, house breaking, shop lifting, stealing of motorcycles among others.”
Adeleye said the corps also arrested a 29 year-old Mathew Phillip who left the correctional centre on January 1 and got arrested again on January 4 for the same offence he was previously jailed.
According to him, “One issue of note is that on all of such instances, we always have a recycled criminal. Like in this case, there is a particular suspect that left the correctional centre on January 1 and on January 4, 2024, (less than one week), he went into burglary crime again.
“The ex-convict claimed to be a drug dealer, who also engage in robbery activities. We equally have about four suspects that violated the anti-grazing law of the state.
“The same way, those that were involved in illegal possession of firearms and have been on our watch list in the last five months were arrested with guns, locally made pistol, with which they perpetrate evil.
“Towards the yuletide season, we made it clear that there was not going to be any major bank robbery or robbery operation throughout. I want to thank officers of the Amotekun Corps, the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the DSS, and those that joined hands in ensuring that safety of lives and property in Ondo State throughout the yuletide period was not compromised.”
The Corps commander, who vowed that there is no hiding place for criminals in the state, noted that the suspects would be profiled and would be prosecuted as soon as possible.
Besides, Adeleye debunked the rumours making the rounds that bandits invaded Ondo community and overwhelmed operatives of the corps, saying it was a ruse, false, unbalanced and as well unfounded targeted at causing chaos in the state.
He said: “It is so obvious that the said writer of the story did so for selfish gain from a quarter which the main intention was to dowse the morale of the corps in the state over such mischievous write up.
“We advise the public to ignore such fake news and go about their legitimate businesses as the Akoko area of the state is safe for movement as the joint security agencies are fully on ground to ensure the safety of lives and property.”
