The Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun has arrested 17 people who were allegedly involved in various criminal activities in the state in recent times.
Specifically, the suspects were alleged to have been involved in crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, snatching, and dismantling of motorcycles among others.
The state Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, who paraded the suspects on Wednesday, at the headquarters of the command in Akure, the state capital, said the arrests were made in collaboration with other security agencies in the state.
He said, “Today, we have 17 criminals or suspected criminals and we have begun an investigation to ascertain criminal offences which they have committed.
“Findings have shown, that there has been a decline in criminal activities, especially those that have to do with neighborhood criminal activities like housebreaking, stealing among others within the state in the last one month.
“We have an unusual increase of influx of herdsmen into our communities and most of the time, it goes with kidnapping.
“On Monday, we got a distress call from a community in Akure, that two of their members were whisked away and within few minutes, we got there, cordoned off the area, rescued them and arrested one of the kidnappers who confessed that other four gun-wielding members have fled to the southern part of the country.
“We also have some suspected armed robbers and cultists and we have a group that specializes in dismantling stolen Okada and selling to another group resident in Osogbo.
“In collaboration with the Amotekun Corps in Osun State, we were able to arrest the kingpin who took us to the receiver in Akure. I want to thank members of the public for feeding us with timely information and we assure you that information given before and now will continue to be treated in the strictest confidence.”
Speaking on the recent rescue of kidnapped 16 passengers abducted by gunmen in Ose area of the state Adeleye also stated that some of the bandits had been arrested.
“We had a very serious kidnap issue involving about 16 people in Ose and Arimogija axis and we were also able to apprehend some of the culprits who have been identified. There was a joint operation involving men of the 32 Artillery Brigade, the Nigeria Police, the NSCDC, and the Amotekun Corps.
“This involves an 18-passenger bus and to the glory of God, we were also able, without payment of any ransom, secure the release of 16 victims, and most of their properties that were littered were put together and delivered to them and have since, reunited with their families.”