...Nabs 97 Suspects Over Kidnapping, Robbery, Vehicle Theft, Others
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, has raised concerns over what it described as a fresh movement of people from northern parts of the country into forest communities in the state, warning that the trend could pose security challenges if left unchecked.
Commander of the Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this while parading 97 suspects arrested across the 18 local government areas of the state within the last 14 days for offences ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery to vehicle theft and violations of the anti-open grazing law.
Adeleye said security operatives intercepted several groups of people, including women of different ages, travelling into forests with household items such as bedding, cooking utensils, mortars and pestles, raising suspicions about their mission.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that some of the individuals claimed they were fleeing security pressure in northern Nigeria and had been invited by persons already residing in forest settlements within Ondo State.
The Amotekun boss cited a case where a man who reportedly requested only two labourers later received 51 additional persons who moved into a forest area with their belongings. He described the development as suspicious and worthy of further investigation.
He also disclosed that another group of 16 persons allegedly invited by an individual claiming to be a farmer was intercepted while heading towards the Ose/Owo forest axis, an area that has witnessed security concerns in recent years.
Among the 97 suspects paraded were individuals arrested in connection with kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, vehicle hijacking and theft, as well as suspected informants and logistics suppliers to criminal gangs operating in forests across the state.
Adeleye revealed that some suspects confessed to acting as informants for kidnappers, while two others allegedly disguised themselves as mentally ill persons in order to conceal their identities and gather information for criminal elements.
The commander further announced the dismantling of a robbery syndicate accused of invading homes at night under the guise of being visitors, holding occupants hostage, forcing them to transfer money electronically and making away with vehicles and other valuables.
Several stolen vehicles recovered from the suspects were displayed during the parade. Adeleye also disclosed that security operatives recovered a vehicle allegedly used during an attack on members of a security team before it was abandoned in a forest.
He attributed the successes recorded in recent operations to collaboration between Amotekun, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army, noting that the joint efforts had contributed significantly to the relative peace currently being enjoyed in the state.
On the fate of those arrested, Adeleye said suspects found not to have committed any offence after profiling would be handed over to leaders of the Hausa/Fulani community and transported back to their places of origin, while those linked to criminal activities would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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