Ondo Amotekun Arrests Security Guard for Staging His Own Kidnap

By Bayero Ade

A security guard at a rubber plantation in Edo State, Sule Gende, has been arrested by the Ondo State security outfit, Amotekun, for orchestrating his own kidnapping and demanding a N50 million ransom from his employer.

The arrest was made after Amotekun paraded 22 suspects in Akure, the state capital. Chief Adetunji Adeleye, the state commander of Amotekun, confirmed that two other individuals were also arrested in connection with the crime.

Adeleye explained that Gende was apprehended at his duty post at the rubber plantation in Edo State, where he had staged his abduction and was later taken to a hideout in the Southern senatorial district of Ondo State.

In a move to expedite the legal process, Adeleye revealed that the two suspects involved in the case would be handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Edo State for further investigation and trial.

Gende had stayed in an apartment owned by his 19-year-old friend, James Lisbon, a fellow security guard, before his arrest. Lisbon explained that he agreed to accommodate Gende after being told that his friend would soon be traveling to Benue State. Lisbon added that he provided Gende with N10,000 twice during his stay.

According to an official from the company where Gende worked, CCTV footage showed that the night guard was abducted by gunmen, who later contacted the company and demanded N50 million for his release. The amount was later reduced to N35 million, then further lowered to N15 million, but no payment was made.

The company then informed the DSS, and when the kidnappers could not be traced, they reached out to Amotekun. The security agency’s efforts led to the capture of the two suspects.

Meanwhile, Chief Adeleye announced that Amotekun had deployed 1,200 personnel across the state to patrol black spots and key areas ahead of the festive season. He assured the public that these personnel would maintain 24/7 patrols to prevent an increase in crime due to the influx of visitors.

Amotekun, in collaboration with other security agencies in the state, has formulated strategies to ensure the safety of lives and property during the yuletide period.