Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, has arrested a 54-year-old man, Usman Garuba, over his involvement in the kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.
Garuba, an ex-convict, was apprehended by men of Amotekun Corps during a raid of the hideout of his gang at Ala Dada/Ago Oyinbo axis of Akure, the state capital.
Parading the suspect along with other 62 suspects, the state Corps Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, hinted that the kidnap kingpin had successfully abducted nine persons and collected ransom from their families for their release.
He said, “At a point in one of the villages, because they attempted to fight him, he led five other people back at night and burnt down the whole village.”
The Amotekun boss further narrated that men of Amotekun Corps stormed Garuba’s hide-out and subsequently arrested him with five other members of the gang following a tip-off.
He said, “Found in their possession were single barrel guns, bullets, amulets, money received as ransom, food items including a half bag of beans, rice, some loaves of bread, rolls of cigarettes, and other consumable items.
“When profiled, it was discovered that Garuba and two of the members of his gang had been convicted and jailed twice for different crimes.”
“Today, we are parading 62 suspected criminals arrested across the 18 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of Ondo State.
“The arrest of these suspected criminals arose from distress calls received, surveillance activities of Amotekun men, and all the security agencies in the state, inclusive of the police, the Civil Defence, the DSS, and the Army, in various joint operations.
“This ember month patrol is strategic as we are determined to guarantee the safety of lives and properties in Ondo State and for those passing through the highways of the state.
“Across the board, we were able to track down about 15 suspected kidnappers. Some of them with guns they use, the money received as part of the ransom, and all they told those coming to pay ransom to bring along with the money. We have cigarettes, bread from Osogbo, and another one from Ilorin because they gave them terms of how to package the ransom.
“We equally have some suspected kidnappers residing in and terrorising the Elegbeka axis. We have today, some armed robbers that were caught in the act in Akure metropolis and those that specialise in breaking shops.
“We have another group that breaks into people’s houses during church service when they know that they would have gone out and we have those that steal goats. The vehicle over there was arrested yesterday fully loaded with goats and we went around Idanre and Ondo West local government where they like ‘Asun’. So, it will be easy for them to sell the goat but they were caught in the act.”
He, however, warned the criminals to stay away from the state, adding there is no hiding place for criminals because they will be caught.
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