The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known widely as the Amotekun Corps, has paraded 28 individuals suspected of involvement in various criminal activities across the state. The suspects were apprehended during a coordinated operation involving other security agencies and local vigilante groups.
Speaking at the Corps’ headquarters in Akure on Tuesday, Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, said those arrested had been linked to a range of serious offences, including kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, cattle rustling, theft, and vandalism. The suspects were rounded up from different communities spread across all 18 local government areas of the state.
Adeleye explained that the evolving tactics of criminal elements had necessitated a more strategic approach by the security outfit, which now targets not only suspects directly involved in crime but also the individuals and networks believed to be supporting or financing them.
“We are presenting 28 suspects to the public today, and it is important to recognise that the world of crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated. The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, is constantly adjusting its strategies to stay ahead,” Adeleye stated.
“We’ve moved beyond simply arresting criminals. We are now pursuing the enablers and sponsors behind these crimes. Our mandate is to uproot the entire chain of criminality. It is only by doing this that we can ensure lasting peace and attract meaningful socio-economic development to Ondo State,” he added.
The Amotekun commander pointed to specific cases among the suspects, including a syndicate that allegedly murdered motorcycle riders and sold the stolen bikes through an underground network of dismantlers and resellers. He confirmed that both the criminals and their accomplices in the illicit trade had been apprehended.
“We’ve identified those who steal and kill riders, the buyers who disassemble the motorcycles within minutes, and those who later reassemble and sell them. Every link in that chain has been broken. The arrest of suspects, sponsors, and handlers represents a major disruption of their operation,” Adeleye said.
Among the suspects paraded were four individuals accused of kidnapping in the Elegbeka area: Kwangi, Kwanji, Kana, and Daniel, aged between 18 and 27. Others included one Abiola (24), arrested for rape and fraud; one Ogungbemi, alleged to have committed defilement and sexual assault; and one Tosin, arrested for physical assault.
Two suspected cattle rustlers, Abubakar Musa and Umar Mohammed (20), were also detained. According to Adeleye, the stolen livestock was recovered and returned to their rightful owners.
He praised the cooperation between Amotekun and other security bodies, noting that the presence of patrol teams in remote and forested areas had significantly disrupted criminal activity.
“The security framework in Ondo State is solid. Criminals operating here are being pushed out. Forests which previously served as hideouts have been reclaimed. Our joint patrols are ongoing, and we are fully in control of even the most remote areas,” he stated.
The Corps also referenced a previous operation in July, during which seven suspects were arrested for kidnapping and burglary. Recovered items during that raid were reportedly valued at over ₦300 million.
Adeleye reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal elements and ensuring that Ondo State remains hostile territory for lawbreakers.
