Tag: Ondo Amotekun

Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps said it has arrested a notorious kidnapper who escaped from a Correctional Facility in Edo state.

It said it also arrested two other fleeing inmates who escaped trial from other facilities.

The names of the fleeing inmates were given as Taiwo Adeola, Juwon Olanrewaju, and Olajide Olayemi

Commander of Ondo Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said one of the fleeing inmates joined a kidnapping gang in Ondo and had planned to retire after abducting his last victim before he was arrested.

Akogun Adetunji spoke in Akure when he paraded 68 suspects arrested for various crimes across the state.

Adetunji said collaborative efforts of all security agencies helped to ensure hitch-free burial activities for late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

He expressed worry over the exodus of some persons claiming to be hunters and farmers from some parts of the century into forest reserves across the state.

Read Also; CBN warns Nigeria, others on New Debt Risks

According to him, “A worrisome group that we observed recently is young men in their hundreds saying they are hunters with dogs entering the nooks and crannies of the state. On the directives of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, we returned them to their base up north.

“We escorted them far out of the reach of Ondo state. We have done this about three or four times, so we want to let them know, that anybody coming into Ondo state must have a place he is going; we must know why he is coming and he must have a reference point; not just tell us that you are coming from up north and you want to go into our forestry reserves and hunt. Yes, we are not opposed to hunting, but we have rules and regulations guiding whoever wants to enter our reserves, so we have sent them back, on the directives of the governor, back to their state.

“These 67 criminals were arrested within the last two weeks of rounding up of Operation Ember months programmes that we embarked on. A good number of them were suspected kidnappers while a good number of them were identified by their victims. Some of them were arrested with different types of weapons. Out of these 67, we have three that could be regarded as jailbirds.

“One of them escaped from Benin, Edo state, where he was answering charges bordering on kidnapping and robbery. There is another one who claimed to be running away from fellow kidnappers because he was not joining them again. We were also able to arrest him in what he termed his last operation in kidnapping before we arrested him. He told us he is a member of a seven-team kidnap group terrorizing iso/emure/Owo axis. These are cross sections of criminals troubling the peace of the state.”

Ondo State Security Network yesterday paraded 31 suspects arrested for kidnapping and other crimes across the state.

The Corps Commander, Akogun Adeleye Adetunji, who paraded the suspects, also warned hunters from other parts of the country to notify the authorities of their presence before entering the forests for gaming.

According to Adeleye, personnel of the corps had been deployed to neighbouring Ekiti State to help secure the release of the kidnapped pupils and arrest the culprits.

He revealed that some arrests had been made in pursuit of the abductors, adding that investigation had commenced with the suspects arrested in Ekiti State.

Read Also; How currency redesign, electoral uncertainties affected 2023 revenue, by Customs CG

The Amotekun boss said the directive to deploy personnel to Ekiti was given by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The Commander said the solution to rising insecurity across the country was the creation of state police.

He said it had been difficult for Amotekun operatives to move into states like Edo and Kogi to arrest suspected kidnappers due to lack of collaboration.

He said:”There is decline in kidnapping activities in the state. Security agencies will not relent until the last kidnapper has been sent away.

“The Governor directed that we move to assist in the security situation in Ekiti State. We deployed 100 personnel and some arrests have been made. We will continue until the criminals are arrested.

“There is a sudden upsurge of visitors to the state in the name of hunting. The state government has demanded that approval must be sought before entering the forest. As a Nigerian, you can go anywhere in the country but you have to follow a laid down resolution.”

Ondo State Security Network said it has deployed its personnel to neighbouring Ekiti State to help secure release of the kidnapped pupils and arrest the kidnappers.

It said some arrest has been made in pursuit of the abductors.

Commander of the Ondo Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adeleye Adetunji, said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ordered deployment of the personnel to Ekiti State.

Akogun Adeleye said discreet investigation has commenced into the suspects arrested in Ekiti State.

Adeleye spoke when he paraded 31 suspects arrested for various criminals activities across the 18 local government areas.

He warned hunters from other parts of the country to make their presence known to relevant authorities before going into the forest to hunt animals.

Read Also: Why we established Amotekun in southwest – Makinde

The Ondo Amotekun Commander said solution to rising insecurity across the country was for creation of State police.

He said it has been difficult for Amotekun operatives to move into states like Edo and Kogi to arrest suspectsd kidnappers due to lack of collaboration.

He said: “There is decline in kidnapping activities in the state. Security agencies will not relent until the last kidnapper has been sent away.

“The Governor directed we move to assist in the security situation in Ekiti State. We deployed 100 personnel and seen arrest have been made. We will continue until the criminals are arrested.

“There is sudden upsurge of visitors to the state in the name of hunting. The state government has demanded approval must be sought before entering the forest. As a Nigerian, you can go anywhere in the country but you have to follow laid down resolution.”