The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, has arrested 10 suspected criminals, including two suspected kidnappers, in separate operations across the state.
The corps commander, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Monday while parading the suspects at the agency’s headquarters in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The two suspected kidnappers were identified as 27-year-old Gambo and 19-year-old Murtala.
Adeleye said Gambo was arrested behind Shasha in Akure while allegedly negotiating ransom with victims’ families, unaware that Amotekun operatives were monitoring the area.
Murtala was allegedly arrested with a locally made firearm and other weapons after attempting to abduct the wife of his former employer in Molege, Owo.
According to the commander, Murtala had gained access to the woman’s residence when her husband and others woke up and raised the alarm.
Amotekun operatives were subsequently mobilised alongside members of the local Fulani community, who helped cordon off the area and apprehend the suspect.
Adeleye said Murtala allegedly confessed to involvement in several kidnapping operations and was also linked to criminal activities around the Akure North axis.
He commended members of the Fulani community for assisting the corps in identifying suspected criminals, stressing that their cooperation had helped security operatives avoid generalising criminality to an entire community.
In another operation, Amotekun operatives rescued a woman and her two children who were reportedly kidnapped in the Osi/Isinigbo area of Akure North Local Government Area.
The commander said the rescue followed a distress call and a rapid response by operatives, who engaged the suspected kidnappers before securing the victims.
The remaining eight suspects were arrested over allegations including motorcycle theft, robbery, burglary and housebreaking.
Adeleye identified Mustafa Aniliasu as an alleged motorcycle thief and burglar accused of breaking into churches and mosques. He said Mustafa’s latest alleged operation involved the burglary of a church in Elegbeka.
Two other suspects, Joseph, 25, and Friday, 20, were allegedly involved in stealing and reselling motorcycles.
Adeleye said one of the stolen motorcycles was kept by an accomplice and later sold for N70,000.
Another suspect, Duyilemi, was accused of posing as an Okada rider in the evening before robbing passengers at knifepoint and stealing their motorcycles.
He was reportedly arrested in the Sango area of Akure North during a sting operation.
Wahab was arrested over the alleged theft of drum sets in Danjuma along the Ondo Road, while 28-year-old Aminu was accused of burgling a church in the Sijuade area.
Kabiru, whom Adeleye described as a suspected serial housebreaker, was allegedly arrested for stealing a gas cylinder. The commander said he had previously been arrested and released on bail several times.
Adeleye said all 10 suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
The latest arrests add to ongoing security operations by Amotekun across Ondo State as the corps intensifies efforts to tackle kidnapping, robbery and other forms of criminality.
