The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun Corps, has arrested 48 persons for their alleged engagement in kidnapping and some other crimes in the state.
Addressing journalists at the Corps headquarters in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, the Corps Commandant, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that his men also arrested an unrepentant kidnapper.
The Commandant also disclosed that the 48 suspected criminals have all confessed to committing the various crimes.
Adeleye said, “Right here, we have victims of his nefarious acts who were able to identify him. Even one of them said he was the one who collected ransom from him. But, somehow, he was arrested, but found his way out. However, this time around, the full wrath of the law has caught up with him.”
The Amotekun boss further disclosed that a gang of three persons comprising Audu Michael, Anthony Emmanuel, Samuel Uche were found with firearms which they use in attacking innocent citizens of Akure.
“In Isua and Akure, we have a very serious issue at hand. We found out that so many transformers have been stolen. So many cables servicing the transformers had been cut and taken away, and landlords associations are being made to pay at very high cost for all these. However, Amotekun has been able to break those terrible incidents.
“We were able to arrest about three different groups and these groups sell the products of these bad and nefarious activities to a particular person who is at-large but the law will still catch up with him,” Adeleye said.
He also said that the Ondo State Security Network has launched the ‘Operation Safe-ground’ across the 18 local governments of the state to flush out criminals completely from the state.
“We observed that in the main cities, miscreants and criminals are taking over. We equally observed that on Sundays, and when people go to work, these miscreants burgle their houses and make away with their valuables.
“The complaints became unbearable in the last three weeks and this was what prompted the governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to direct that ‘Operation Safe-ground’ be commissioned today (Monday June 3, 2024).
“The importance of ‘Operation Safe-ground’ is a resurgence of how we started. I want you to recall that the security situation of the state was at a sorry state about three years ago and by the grace of God and the support of the government and the good people of the state, we were able to bring it to a reasonable level, where people can do their businesses without being molested and sleep with their two eyes closed.
“In recent times, these miscreants have taken over the town again. I agree that we drove them out of the forest and we will continue to drive them out of the forest.
“However, the executive governor of Ondo State has directed that we flush them out completely from the state and that is why we are launching ‘Operation Safe-ground’, Adeleye added.
