Amotekun Nabs Father, 3 Sons Over Alleged Kidnap

Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, has arrested a 56-year-old man, Iliasu, and his three sons over the alleged abduction of a traveller in Oba-Akoko, Akoko South-West local government area.

The state commander of the corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, announced the arrest yesterday while parading 28 suspects apprehended for various offences, including kidnapping, armed banditry, illegal possession of firearms, robbery, cultism, rape, stealing and breach of peace at the agency’s headquarters in Akure.

Adeleye said the victim was kidnapped while travelling to Oba-Akoko and that members of his family paid ransom to the abductors without informing the Amotekun Corps. He, however, said the kidnappers refused to release the victim despite collecting the ransom and warned the family against reporting the incident to security agencies.

He said the family later sought the intervention of the corps, prompting a four-day operation that led operatives to the kidnappers’ hideout, where they allegedly discovered that a father and his sons worked together and used cattle as cover for their criminal activities.

According to the commander, the suspects attacked Amotekun operatives during the rescue operation. Still, the officers overpowered them, rescued the victim and rushed him to the hospital after discovering he had sustained machete and knife injuries to the head while in captivity.

‎”We found a family, a father and three sons, directly involved in kidnapping activities. In the course of the operation, they attacked our men, but we succeeded in rescuing the victim. We also recovered over 75 per cent of the ransom paid, alongside drugs, drinks, cigarettes and materials used to blindfold the victim,” Adeleye said.

‎He identified the suspects as Usman, 33; Wahab, 27; Yakubu, 18; and their father, Iliasu, 56, all arrested in Oba-Akoko. Adeleye added that the eldest son, who allegedly coordinated the latest operation, had fled the state for about 2 years before returning recently.

‎The commander also disclosed that two other suspects, Musa and Aruna, were arrested over another alleged kidnapping case in Owo, while seven suspects were apprehended for alleged armed banditry.

Three others were arrested for alleged illegal possession of firearms, robbery and cultism, while additional suspects were paraded for rape, stealing, conspiracy and breach of peace.

‎Speaking on the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State, Adeleye said the South-West Conference of Amotekun Commanders was collaborating with traditional rulers, hunters and other security agencies to intensify forest operations aimed at ensuring the victims’ safe return.

‎He urged residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, assuring them that there was no longer any hiding place for criminals in Ondo State.