Ondo State’s security outfit, Amotekun, has apprehended 21 individuals suspected of engaging in criminal activities, including kidnapping.
The suspects were paraded in Akure by Chief Adetunji Adeleye, the state commander of Amotekun. He noted that criminals are constantly devising new strategies to evade law enforcement.
“We have arrested 21 suspected criminals from various local government areas across the state,” Adeleye said.
“The more we device means of check-mating them, they also move forward and i know by the grace of God and the support of Ondo State people in the provision of credible information, we will get around it.
“A typical example is the modus operandi of those who specialise in the kidnap and stealing of Okada.
“Earlier, we advised the people not to patronise Okada that use hoods to cover their heads, only leaving spaces for their eyes and nose, as those are known to be criminals, especially at night.
“We were able to break a syndicate that devised another means of dispossessing innocent Okada riders of their Okada. Some of them have been killed.
“They use guns, and heavy objects, and rather than mount the Okada, they ride beside the Okada and hit the Okada rider on the head.
“So he falls and they pick the bike and within some minutes, the bike is dismembered and put in a sack and taken out of the state.
”We were able to apprehend the mastermind from Benin and a manhunt is ongoing for the accomplice
“So we have to enlighten Okada riders to be wary of who rides behind you. They actually engaged us in a shootout to escape arrest.
“We also have a group who specialises in breaking into empty, unoccupied houses where the owners are not around.
“They burgled and emptied the house of everything and they sold them out but we were able to retrieve the stolen items from the different local governments.
” I want to warn people who take pleasure in buying cheap second-hand items to desist, as they will be taken as accomplices. If there is no ready-made market, they’ll discourage.
“We equally have suspected kidnappers apprehended around where the ransom was paid. The suspects have given us useful information.
“You will observe the upsurge of criminal activities especially kidnapping along the borders of Ose, Edo, Akoko, and Kogi axis.
“Apart from the governor’s directive that Amotekun rangers should dominate and flush criminals from forests, we have devised security tactics to bring about relative peace at border local governments of Edo-Ondo, Edo-Kogi. The results will be visible within a few days.
Adetunji said that the 21 suspects had been profiled and would be charged in court after a thorough investigation.
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