THE Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, said it has arrested no fewer than 97 persons in connection with alleged criminal activities in some parts of the state.
According to the Corps, the suspects were allegedly involved in criminal activities, including kidnapping, burglary, robbery, and violation of the anti-open grazing law, among others.
Speaking on the development on Sunday, the state commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adeleye, said the suspects were arrested during raids carried out within two weeks.
Adeleye said among those arrested were individuals identified as members of armed robbery and kidnapping gangs operating in Ikare Akoko, Akure, Ilu-Abo, and some other locations.
He alleged that some of the suspects were members of armed robbery and kidnapping gangs operating in Ikare, Kajola, Akure, Ilu-Abo, Akure North, Mure, Oja-Mokan, and other locations.
He said, “I have a total of 97 suspects arrested across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State within the last 14 days. Some were arrested directly in connection with kidnapping-related cases. Others were arrested for violating the anti-open grazing law of Ondo State. Some were arrested for burglary and robbery, while others were apprehended in connection with vehicle hijacking and theft.
“We were able to break a syndicate that has been operating in Ondo State. The stolen vehicles and some of the principal suspects have been arrested. We equally have some individuals who confessed to being informants and suppliers to kidnappers in the forest, as well as confirmed members of kidnapping groups.”
The Amotekun commander also stated that some of the suspects were arrested inside the forest with personal utensils, indicating that they were living there illegally.
“I want to bring to the attention of the general public a new trend in criminality that we have observed. It involves women of different ages travelling in vehicles into the interior forests with household utensils, mortars and pestles, bedding, cooking utensils, and personal belongings.
“Upon interrogation, they confirmed they were fleeing security pressure in the North. They also admitted that they were invited by some members of these northern groups to come and destabilise the peace in the southern part of the state, which had previously been very peaceful.
“One suspect told us he invited only two people to work for him, but those two people brought 51 others. The man who invited them confirmed that he only requested two workers. These individuals subsequently brought 51 more people into the forest, loaded with various goods, to an area they had never been before. This is highly suspicious,” the commander said.