The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, has arrested 10 suspected criminals for alleged kidnapping, motorcycle theft, burglary and other offences across the state.
Two of the suspects were allegedly linked to the attempted abduction of a woman and her two children in the Osi/Isinigbo area of Akure North Local Government Area, where Amotekun operatives rescued the victims.
The suspects were paraded at the corps’ headquarters in Akure on Monday by the state commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye.
Adeleye said the arrests were achieved partly through the cooperation of members of the Fulani community in the affected areas, stressing that their involvement helped the corps identify suspects without generalising criminal allegations against the community.
According to him, the suspects are Gambo, 27; Murtala, 19; Mustafa; Aniliasu; Joseph, 25; Friday, 20; Duyilemi; Wahab; Kabiru; and Aminu, 28.
The commander said Gambo was arrested behind Shasha in Akure with the assistance of informants while allegedly negotiating a ransom.
He said Gambo had confessed to involvement in several kidnapping operations and had allegedly planned to abduct the wife of his former employer in Molege, Owo.
“Gambo, 27, was negotiating and discussing ransom, not knowing that Amotekun men and some of our informants were around. We were able to arrest him eventually behind Shasha in Akure,” Adeleye said.
He explained that Murtala, who was arrested with a locally made firearm and other weapons, was allegedly the person who entered the woman’s house as part of the planned abduction.
According to Adeleye, the suspect had previously worked for the woman’s husband.
He allegedly entered the house at night, but the husband and other occupants woke up and fled.
The incident prompted the mobilisation of Amotekun operatives and members of the Fulani community, who reportedly cordoned off the area and apprehended the suspect.
Adeleye said Murtala had also confessed to being a serial kidnapper operating around the Akure North axis.
The commander also alleged that another suspect, Mustafa, was involved in motorcycle theft and the burglary of churches and mosques.
He said the suspect’s latest alleged operation was the burglary of a church in Elegbeka, where he was subsequently arrested.
Two other suspects, Joseph and Friday, aged 25 and 20 respectively, were arrested over alleged theft and resale of motorcycles.
Adeleye said one of them allegedly kept a stolen motorcycle and helped to sell it for N70,000 despite the motorcycle being new.
The commander said the corps recovered a locally made firearm from one of the suspects.
He added that Amotekun would sustain its patrols across Ondo State to ensure residents could carry out their activities without fear and return home safely.
