The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun, has said its command arrested 98 suspected criminals, including individuals posing as mentally unstable persons, allegedly involved in kidnapping, robbery, and drug trafficking across the state.
The State Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this while parading the suspects at the agency’s headquarters in Ondo State, saying they were apprehended during coordinated security operations carried out in various parts of the state.
According to the Amotekun boss, those arrested were linked to offences ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery to drug-related crimes and public disturbance.
Speaking on the drug peddlers who also allegedly served as informants to kidnappers, Adeleye said some of the suspects disguised themselves as mentally unstable persons to evade suspicion while carrying out criminal activities.
Adeleye disclosed that operatives uncovered a new tactic allegedly adopted by criminals who pose as mentally unstable persons to avoid detection during illegal operations.
According to him, the suspects used the disguise to gather intelligence, traffic drugs, and coordinate robbery and kidnapping operations.
“Our intelligence and undercover officers tracked their movements to locations where they charged phones, changed clothes, and planned operations before they were eventually arrested,” he said.
He revealed that 60 of the suspects are currently being prosecuted in court, while 38 cases were settled through the Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism.
He added that another 13 suspects are still under investigation and may soon face prosecution, disclosing that 10 of the suspects were arrested either at kidnapping scenes or while attempting to abduct victims.
The Amotekun boss also recounted how operatives rescued a kidnapped couple in Iluwabu community without paying ransom.
He said the agency swiftly deployed personnel into the forest after receiving distress information, leading to the rescue of the woman, while an overnight operation later secured the release of her husband.
“We successfully reunited the couple with their family without ransom payment or negotiation,” Adeleye stated.
He attributed the increasing cases of kidnapping and related crimes to pressure on criminal groups fleeing northern parts of the country.
Despite the security concerns, Adeleye assured residents that Ondo State remains safe, stressing that Amotekun and other security agencies, including the military, police, DSS, and civil defence corps, have intensified joint operations across forest areas.
“Our forests can no longer serve as safe hideouts for criminals. Security agencies are working together to safeguard lives and property,” he said.
He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information, assuring that all intelligence shared would be handled confidentially.
tribuneonlineng.com
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