Ondo Amotekun’s “Big Haul” During Eid Fitri Celebration, Parades 48 Suspects

By Ayodele Oni

It was a success story for the South West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun in Ondo state during the recent of Eid El Fitri celebration.

Under its ‘safe ground’ an operation launched to rid the state of criminals, the security network on Wednesday paraded 48 suspects.

They were arrested in connection with various crimes such as kidnapping, stealing of cows, attempted murder, fraud and illegal counterfeiting of money, cultism, illegal migration and stealing of planks, burglary, arson, anti-grazing activities and vandalisation of critical government assets.

Commanded of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye stated that “men of Amotekun corps had assured the Muslim faithful that everything will be put in place to ensure that the festive period goes on fine without security breaches.

“During this period, in the last one week, a Toyota and Lexus car were stolen at different occasions in Owo. We trailed, tracked and traced it from Owo to Igbara-Oke where we were able to apprehend the vehicle.

“We equally responded to the distress call in Owo midnight Wednesday where a car was stolen and within 30 minutes, we were able to recover the vehicle and we are on the trail of the robbers.

“Within this period, we broke a syndicate that specializes in vandalizing transformers. You can see, across there are some of the coils retrieved from the transformers where they dissected and brought out the coils. The other suspects on this case have left the state, we are on their trail.

“Equally, there is this syndicate that specializes in what is called ‘One-Chance’ in local parlance.  Unsuspecting commuters will board their vehicles, they will get midway, rob them, disposes them of their valuables and make away with it.

“So, we were able to put some of our men in one of the vehicle and as we talk today, out of the ten vehicles they use, we were able to retrieve three and the kingpin of the criminal activities has been arrested and is here on parade.

“They have an herbalist that deceive them in telling customers of theirs that they can produce dollars for them, but you can see that they are counterfeit dollars.

“So, they collected naira from them in exchange for counterfeit dollars. So, we were able to break their cartel and you can see the pots and charms they use in hypnotizing their customers.

“So, all they need to tell the victims is to go home and bring all their valuables for these counterfeit dollars.”

The commander disclosed that about 600 suspects have been prosecuted between January and June 2024.

According to him, kidnapping in Ondo State has gone down by 90 percent and the remaining 10 percent, “we only have them in the boarders, the extreme.”