Amotekun Arrests 15 Suspected Kidnappers, Rescues Two Farmers in Ondo.

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, has arrested and paraded 15 suspected kidnappers and other criminals allegedly terrorising residents across the state.

The suspects were paraded in Akure on Tuesday by the State Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye.

Adeleye said the suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and housebreaking.

The security agency also announced the rescue of two farmers who were abducted last week along the Ondo-Ife Road in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of the state. However, one other victim reportedly died while in captivity. 

According to Adeleye, the rescue operation was conducted through a joint effort involving Amotekun, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police.

He said nine members of the Amotekun Special Squad were deployed after the agency received a distress call concerning the kidnapping incident in Oke-Igbo. The security agencies subsequently commenced a joint tracking operation.

Adeleye said the operation received further urgency after Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, personally directed that efforts be intensified to rescue the victims.

He disclosed that the victims were eventually rescued about 72 hours after the governor’s intervention, several kilometres away from the location where they were initially abducted. 

The Amotekun commander further revealed that the kidnappers attempted to mislead security operatives by providing false geographical locations. In response, the security team combined intelligence gathering with other measures and bush-combing operations to locate the victims.

Beyond the kidnapping case, Adeleye said Amotekun operatives also arrested a group allegedly involved in cattle rustling across parts of Ondo State, including Ore, Ode-Aye, Ofosu, Omotosho and Odigbo.

According to him, the suspects allegedly stole cattle from Fulani herdsmen in three different locations before selling the animals. Some alleged buyers of the stolen cattle were also arrested.

The commander said the stolen cattle were allegedly sold for about N100,000 each.

Among those paraded were two suspects identified as Akinlolu and Akintimi, who, according to Adeleye, are facing charges relating to alleged illegal possession of firearms.

Other suspects included Jamiu, who was allegedly involved in vandalising houses under construction by removing electrical cables and plumbing installations.

Two others, identified as Olajide and Dada, were also accused of allegedly stealing iron rods from a palace in Odigbo.

The Corps additionally paraded a 25-year-old man who was allegedly arrested for stealing a motorcycle and subsequently selling it in Ore.