Amotekun Parades 27 Suspected Criminals In Ondo

Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network, known as Amotekun Corps, have apprehended and paraded 27 suspected criminals involved in various illegal activities across the state.

The suspects, including four alleged kidnappers and several motorcycle thieves, were paraded at the Corps’ headquarters in Alagbaka, Akure, on Monday.

Speaking during the parade, Adetunji Adeleye, the Chairman of the Amotekun Corps, reassured the public that the agency remains committed to maintaining peace and security in the state.

Adeleke identified Michael Ojo, a notorious member of a syndicate specialised in stealing and dismantling motorcycles, as evidence of ongoing efforts to curb crime in the state.

Ojo, who was arrested after an extensive manhunt that spanned between Kogi and Edo states, confessed to stealing numerous motorcycles and selling them in pieces for as little as N30,000 to N50,000.

The Chairman also revealed that the Corps has resolved five out of six cases related to farmer-herder clashes, with one case pending in court.

He also noted that four persons involved in kidnapping activities in the Ikakumo-Akoko area were among those paraded.

He said: “We are parading 27 suspected criminals that engaged in various security breaches across Ondo State and across the board, I want to say that despite pockets of security breaches, the security situation of the state is good.

“For instance, on law and order, we have 22 suspects within the period under review. On pending enforcement, there is no infringement. On land and chieftaincy, there are no issues. Anti-grazing farmers/herders clashes, we had six but we’ve resolved five, the remaining one will go to court.

“We have four kidnapped suspects that are going through interrogation. Of the 27 suspects, we have Michael Ojo. You will recall that at the last parade we did, we arrested one of the major members of a syndicate that specialises in killing Okada riders and robbing them, and some of them were at large.

“We went as far as Kogi and Edo before we were able to track and arrest Michael Ojo who is here on parade. He has confessed to stealing so many motorcycles. He said he lost count of them and dispossessed them, dismantled them, takes them out of the state, as in pieces.

“He operates in Akure and moves to either Uso or Ogbese. He sells the bikes for N30,000, N50,000. We have Usman Shehu, Ojo, Temidayo, and Pelemo. Four of them were the people who had been joining their colleagues in kidnapping activities around IKakumo-Akoko. We have the four of them here.”

Adeleye who said the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation, assured that the Amotekun Corps will continue its efforts to rid the state of criminal elements and ensure the safety of its citizens.