Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, have rescued over 70 foreigners from the den of a notorious kidnap syndicate operating within the state.
Majority of those abducted by the kidnap syndicate are foreigners from Ghana.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the victims were lured to the state by the suspects under the pretence of helping them to secure overseas visa to Australia.
Parading the suspects along with other criminals at the headquarters of the Corps in Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, the Amotekun Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the syndicate was busted at Oda Road, Akure South Local Council Area of the state, following a tip-off by one of the victims who escaped after several months in captivity.
According to him, the suspects had deceived the victims, who are Ghanaians, to help them secure an Australian visas in Nigeria.
Adeleye further narrated that after arriving at the Oda axis of the state, the victims were forced to pay between $1,500 and $2,000 by the suspects and later asked to bring in new victims before they could be released.
The Amotekun boss said, “It’s a 28-man syndicate that specialised in kidnapping, human trafficking, and rustling. They invited unsuspecting members of the public that they want to help them procure US and Australian Visas. We have 28 Ghanaians that were invited to Akure, and once they come in, they collect money from them, some of them $2,000, some of them $1,500, and kidnap them and house them in Oda, and the only condition under which they leave the place is to bring another set to be kidnapped.
“The eagle eye of the Intelligence Section of Amotekun Corps was able to pick them and right here today, we have 28 of them. We equally have those of them that were rescued by the Corps and their families.”
Narrating his ordeal in the hand of the syndicate, one of the victims, who identified himself as Jeremiah Amoah, said a friend of his was used to convince him into believing that the overseas trip was genuine.
Amoah said, “I was asked to come to Nigeria to perfect my travelling documents. When I got to Lagos, one of them also asked me to look for a vehicle going to Akure. On getting to Akure, one of their agents picked me and took me to their location. Arriving at their den, they collected my money, they took me to another place where they instructed me to bring another person by luring him to Nigeria before I’ll be released.
“I was able to escape at midnight when everyone was asleep. I jumped over the wall. The Amotekun people really tried for us. They ensured that all those involved were arrested and over 70 victims released.”
