Operatives of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps has apprehended 17 suspected kidnappers and foiled five kidnapping cases within the last two weeks without ransom payment.
Commander of Amotekun Corps in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this at a press conference on Thursday.
Adeleye said in the latest effort of the Command, operatives, within the last 24 hours, rescued a community leader who was kidnapped close to Akure, the state capital.
According to Adeleye, the Amotekun Corps, in collaboration with local hunters, pursued the kidnappers overnight and rescued both the community leader and a motorcyclist, popularly called ‘Okada’ rider.
He said, “Again, the perpetrators of evil in the Akoko axis, the northern senatorial district of the state, some of them were arrested. They attempted, and actually kidnapped victims along Ajegunle Road, and at about 2 a.m., between 1 and 2 a.m., they came with their herds, ravaged their farms, raped their women, and ran away.
“Our tactical team moved in, under the leadership of the area commander of our Zone 6, and within 48 hours, the people were released, and three suspects identified as part of the gang were arrested.”
Adeleye also disclosed that his men arrested suspects involved in robbery and rape cases, with eight suspects facing charges relating to law-breaking, three for kidnapping, and six for robbery and rape.
While emphasising the government’s stance against kidnapping in Ondo State, the Amotekun boss urged farmers to return to their farms, assuring them of the corps’ commitment to maintaining peace and security.
“What the government of Ondo State is saying is that we reject kidnapping for ransom in Ondo State. Herders are free to do their business, farmers are free to cultivate. Farmers will not infringe on the rights of herders, while herders have no right to destroy people’s farms.
“So, on farmers and herders clashes, even though it has reduced, we say the government does not want it to happen to prevent scarcity of food in the next season. We want farmers to go back to their farms,” Adeleye said.
He added that the Amotekun Rangers were in the forest, and commended the farmers and members of the public, the hunters’ association, and the vigilante groups for giving the corps timely information to work.
